LOCAL INTERFERON-ALPHA2B IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT IN EARLY-STAGEPEYRONIES-DISEASE

Objective: Peyronie's disease is characterized by an acquired penile d eviation that may lead to severe penile deformity. It is refractory to most conservative therapy, and surgical correction is therefore the t reatment of choice once the disease process has come to a halt. Basic science, as well as our first clinical results on the use of interfero ns (IFNs), have been promising, suggesting a beneficial effect in the early noncalcified disease stage. Material and Methods: From July 1994 to October 1995, 30 patients suffering from early Peyronie's disease were treated with three local injections of 3 million units of IFN-a2b each into the plaque(s). The interval between the injections was 1 we ek. Patients were assessed clinically and ultrasonographically 6 month s after the last injection. Results: Peyronie's disease clinically imp roved in only 1 case, remained stable in 26 patients and worsened in 3 . In 7 patients, a total of 10 plaques at different sites were detecte d. By ultrasonography the treated plaques now showed calcifications in 3 cases, remained unchanged in 26 and could not be detected in 1 case . Of the 10 new plaques, 2 showed calcifications. Side effects (myalgi a, fever) were considerable; in 74 of 90 injections, fever >38 degrees C occurred, and a total of 8 working days were lost. Conclusion: IFN- alpha 2b, given according to our regimen, is not useful for the treatm ent of Peyronie's disease in the early stage since the disease progres s continues at different sites in about 25% of the patients, and the s ide effects are untolerable. Our results also demonstrate that local t herapy is not indicated in Peyronie's disease.