The Combined Use of Stem Cells and Platelet Lysate Plasma for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction: A Pilot Study-6 Months Results.

Vassilis Protogerou,Panagiotis Mallis,Theodoros Troupis,Alexandros A Samolis,Catherine Stavropoulos-Giokas,Efstathios Michalopoulos,Dimosthenis Chrysikos,Sara El Beshari

doi:10.3390/medicines7030014

Vassilis Protogerou, Panagiotis Mallis + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines7030014

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Abstract

Background: The current treatment of Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is mainly based on the use of drugs that provide erections shortly after use but they do not really treat the problem. Stem cell therapy is a novel treatment with regenerative properties that can possibly treat erectile dysfunction. Methods: Five patients with erectile disease were treated with Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ADSCs) and Platelet Lysate Plasma (PLP). ADSCs were obtained through abdominal liposuction and PLP was prepared after obtaining blood samples from peripheral veins. Erectile function was evaluated with the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire (IIEF-5) questionnaire, penile triplex at the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 12th month post-treatment. A CT scan of the head, thorax and abdomen was done before treatment and at the 12th month. Results: IIEF-5 scores were improved in all patients at the 6th month although not in the same pattern in all patients. Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV) also improved at the 6th month in all patients but also with different patterns in each patient, while End Diastolic Velocity (EDV) was more variable. Two patients decreased the treatment they used in order to obtain erection (from Intracavernosal injections (ICI) they used PDE-5Is), two had unassisted erections and one had an initial improvement which decreased at the 6th month. There were no side effects noted. Conclusions: Stem cell therapy in combination with PLP appears to show some improvement in erectile function and has minimal side effects in the short term.

Highlights

Erectile dysfunction (ED) prevalence was found to be 52% in the Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS) while in another study in the new onset cases, one in four patients was below the age of40 [1]
Corpora cavernosa consist of sinusoids, which are covered by a single layer of endothelial cells (ECs), multiple layers of cavernous smooth muscle cells (CSMCs), and the cavernous nerves (CNs) [2,3]
The activated neuronal NOS produces NO that leads to the relaxation of the cavernosal smooth muscle cells (CSMCs) and as a consequence blood fills up the sinusoids [2,4]

Summary

Introduction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) prevalence was found to be 52% in the Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS) while in another study in the new onset cases, one in four patients was below the age of40 [1]. Stem cell therapy is a novel treatment aiming at restoring endothelial dysfunction and provides a possible cure for ED. Corpora cavernosa consist of sinusoids, which are covered by a single layer of endothelial cells (ECs), multiple layers of cavernous smooth muscle cells (CSMCs), and the cavernous nerves (CNs) [2,3]. Damage in key components of erections, such as endothelial cells (ECs), cavernous smooth muscle cells (CSMCs) and neuronal cells can lead to ED [2,6,7,8]. The current treatment of Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is mainly based on the use of drugs that provide erections shortly after use but they do not really treat the problem. Stem cell therapy is a novel treatment with regenerative properties that can possibly treat erectile dysfunction

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