Pre Treatment work-up
After erection was achieved by intracavernosal alprostadil injection,
the maximum plaque size was measured before and after treatment by
performing penile duplex doppler ultrasound in all patients. During the
same procedure, the physician investigated whether there was calcified
plaque. During erection, curvature angle was measured using a goniometer
protractor. The point of injection was determined by marking the maximal
curvature point, and the necessity of erection was eliminated before
each procedure. To determine the point of maximum curvature, starting at
the base of the penis, a straight line was drawn through the center of
the straight portion of the penile shaft proximal and distal to the
point of maximum curvature. The intersection of these lines was accepted
as the maximal point of curvature, and the degree of curvature was
determined by measuring the angle between these lines.
Before the first
injection and one month after the last injection, all patients were
assessed with Peyronie’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ), consisting of 15
questions, and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5),
consisting of 5 questions [12]. The score obtained from questions
1-6 of the PDQ questionnaire evaluates symptom severity (PDQS),
questions 7-9 evaluate penile pain (PDQP), and questions 10-15 evaluate
bother/discomfort symptoms (PDQB)
[13].