Carboxytherapy for Conservative Treatment of Peyronie's Disease

Abstract

PD (Peyronie's disease) is an acquired disorder of tunica albuginea characterized by the formation of plaques of fibrous tissue often associated to symptoms like ED (erectile dysfunction) and coital pain. The inflammatory process is unknown, even if it is known that Activated inflammatory cells produce many ROS (radical oxygen species), leading to fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis. Endothelian dysfunction is the responsible of infiammatory chain reaction in which an inflammatory protein, NF-kB seems involved in ROS synthesis. Conservative treatments (laser, ultrasound, iono/iontophoresis) seem to have poor therapeutic effects in PD. Clinical studies have indicated that altered CO 2 (carbon dioxide) levels can impact upon disease progression. CO 2 levels can be sensed by cells resulting in the initiation of pathophysiologic responses with a sensibile reduction of oxydative phenomena (Bohr/Haldane effects). We have tried carboxytherapy, by using sovrapubic subcutaneous injection of sterile CO2 gas in 20 patients aged from 40 to 65, affected by PD. After the cycle of treatment of 10 weekly applications. We have observed in all patients a subjective reduction of penile deviation, an improvement of quality of erections and a sensible reduction of plaque's dimensions, documented by ultrasound controls and IIEF questionary before and after the end of cycle. We should consider co2 as a powerful antioxidant against endothelian dysfunction and oxydative stress. NF-kB is a target of CO2 antioxidant power. Preliminary qualitative results could encourage an extended use of carboxytherapy in PD treatment.