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Hydroxyurea therapy for priapism prevention and erectile function recovery in sickle cell disease: a case report and review of the literature

  • Urology - Case Report
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Abstract

Prolonged ischemic priapism in patients with sickling hemoglobinopathies is a urologic emergency requiring immediate intervention to avoid irreversible anoxic penile injury, corporal fibrosis, and erectile dysfunction. Therapeutic options, however, are limited and often ineffective. Here, we report recovery of erectile function with hydroxyurea therapy in an adolescent with hemoglobin SS following a prolonged episode of priapism and subsequent severe erectile dysfunction. This case suggests a potential role of hydroxyurea in reversing end organ damage in patients with hemoglobin SS and also supports basic science work indicating involvement of the NO-dependent pathway in the pathogenesis of sickle cell disease-associated priapism.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Urology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Uzoma A. Anele & Arthur L. Burnett

  2. The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Uzoma A. Anele & Arthur L. Burnett

  3. Hematology Division, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Linda M. S. Resar

  4. Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Linda M. S. Resar

  5. Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Linda M. S. Resar

  6. Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Linda M. S. Resar

  7. Division of Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    A. Kyle Mack

  8. Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    A. Kyle Mack

  9. The Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21287-2101, USA

    Arthur L. Burnett

Authors
  1. Uzoma A. Anele
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  2. A. Kyle Mack
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  3. Linda M. S. Resar
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  4. Arthur L. Burnett
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Arthur L. Burnett.

Additional information

Uzoma A. Anele and A. Kyle Mack have contributed equally to this work.

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Anele, U.A., Kyle Mack, A., Resar, L.M.S. et al. Hydroxyurea therapy for priapism prevention and erectile function recovery in sickle cell disease: a case report and review of the literature. Int Urol Nephrol 46, 1733–1736 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-014-0737-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-014-0737-7

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