Is Li-ESWT effective in diabetic patients with severe erectile dysfunction?

• Published in: Asian journal of andrology Vol. 24; no. 5; pp. 521 - 524
• Main Authors: Ergün, Müslüm, Akyüz, Osman
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01-09-2022; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Diabetes; diabetes mellitus; international index of erectile function-5 score; low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave treatment; severe erectile dysfunction; Diabetics; Erectile dysfunction; Impotence; Original; International Index of Erectile Function-5 score; diabetes mellitus; low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave treatment; severe erectile dysfunction
• ISSN: 1008-682X; 1745-7262; 1745-7262; 1008-682X
• DOI: 10.4103/aja2021105

Noninvasive low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave treatment (Li-ESWT) has been widely used to treat erection disorders. There is no clear information regarding either the selection of patients for the treatment or the treatment protocol. In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in diabetic patients with severe erectile dysfunction (International Index of Erectile Function-5 [IIEF-5] scores of 5 to 7). Sixty-three diabetes mellitus patients with erectile dysfunction having IIEF-5 scores of 5 to 7 and not showing a recovery of potency despite phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor therapy for the past 6 months were included in the study. The patients were evaluated based on their IIEF-5 scores and Erection Hardness Scale scores. The IIEF-5 score (mean ± standard deviation [s.d.]) increased from 5.29 ± 1.67 to 5.56 ± 1.85, with a difference of 0.27 ± 0.18 (P > 0.05). The Erection Hardness Scale scores (mean ± s.d.), on the other hand, increased from 1.46 ± 0.50 to 1.48 ± 0.50, with a difference of 0.02 ± 0 (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the response to phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors did not change after extracorporeal shockwave treatment in diabetes mellitus patients with severe erectile dysfunction (IIEF-5 scores of 5 to 7).