FRI-06 PRIAPISM – A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE FROM ANTIQUITY TO THE MORE RECENT PAST

Abstract

You have accessJournal of UrologyHistory of Urology: History Forum I1 Apr 2016FRI-06 PRIAPISM – A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE FROM ANTIQUITY TO THE MORE RECENT PAST Alberto Coscione, Michalis Varnavas, and Samer Katmawi-Sabbagh Alberto CoscioneAlberto Coscione More articles by this author , Michalis VarnavasMichalis Varnavas More articles by this author , and Samer Katmawi-SabbaghSamer Katmawi-Sabbagh More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2016.02.091AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Priapism is a potentially serious condition characterized by a persistent, unwanted penile erection. We present a historical review of Priapism as a clinical entity and term in antiquity and the more recent past. METHODS A literature review of various manuscripts ranging from the Greco-Roman period to the present day was performed using databases such as JSTOR, PubMed, archive.org and Google Books. RESULTS Priapism in antiquity: The first recorded evidence of priapism is found in the Ebers papyrus (1550 BC). It is stated that a persistent erection can be treated with watermelon, flax, pine and Hyoscyamus. In the Greco-Roman period one of the first descriptions of a persistent erection is by Greek physiologist Demetrius of Apamea (300 BC). This is also one of the earliest usages of the terms Priapism and Satyriasis. Satyrs were anthropomorphic companions of the god Dyonisius. They were ithyphallic creatures depicted as having large genitals, a human torso and goat-like lower limbs. Priapus was a god of fertility whose existence was first recorded in the comedy Priapus written by Xenarchus. He was the son of Dyonisus and, although known for his large sexual appetite, was said to have been cursed with impotence. Interestingly in the Greco-Roman period both the terms Satyriasis and Priapism were used interchangeably to describe persistent unwanted erections or male hypersexuality syndromes. The most authoritative description of priapism was by Galen (129 to 216 AD) in his essay On Erection and Priapism. Galen recognized a difference between hypersexuality syndrome and unwanted persistent penile erection. He suggested that the formed should be called Satyrisasis and the latter Priapism. Priapism in modern medical literature: The first modern description of priapism is often ascribed to Petraens in his article “Gonorrhoea, Satyriasis et Priapisme”(1616). Nonetheless, French physician Thierry de Hery (1505 to 1599) in his book “La methode curatoire de la maladie venerienne” (publ 1552) gives a clear overview of priapism and makes a mention of Galen in describing “an unwanted erection unrelated to sexual desire”. CONCLUSIONS The earliest usage of the term Priapism was in Greco-Roman medical treatises and Galen was the first author to differentiate between Priapism and Satyriasis based on the presence of sexual desire. Moreover, it is likely incorrect to consider Petraens as the first to describe Priapism in modern literature as the French Physician Thierry de Hery already described the condition in 1552 with clear references to Galen. © 2016FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 195Issue 4SApril 2016Page: e527-e528 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2016MetricsAuthor Information Alberto Coscione More articles by this author Michalis Varnavas More articles by this author Samer Katmawi-Sabbagh More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...