Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum improves the outcomes of patients with acute phase Peyronie’s disease

This study investigated the effectiveness and safety of Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) in the treatment of acute phase Peyronie’s disease (PD). Researchers suggested that CCH therapy improves the outcomes of these patients.

PD consists of the formation of scar tissue inside the penis. It affects between 3% to 13% of the adult male population. These men are affected with penile bending, shortening, and pain which might cause sexual life unsatisfaction and low quality of life.

In the acute phase of PD, penile pain is a common symptom alongside progression in bending. The stable phase of the disease is when the symptoms become clinically unchanged for at least 3 months.   

CCH injections degrade the scar tissue formed inside the penis. Prior studies suggested that CCH reduces penile bending by an average of 35%. However, patients in the acute phase of the disease were not included in these studies.

This study included 918 patients with PD who underwent therapy with CCH. Of these, 134 (14.6%) were in the acute phase of the disease (group 1), and 784 (85.4%) in the stable phase (group 2). The average duration of PD was 4.44 months in group 1 and 40.8 months in group 2. The main outcomes measured were changes in penile bending after treatment and serious side effects.

There was a significant improvement in penile curvature after treatment (by 30%). In group 1, 69.1% of patients had a 20% or more improvement in curvature compared to 63.4% in group 2.

Overall, 10.1% of patients had moderate-to-severe side effects. These included hematoma (blood collection), swelling, and penis rupture.

This study concluded that CCH therapy is a good and safe treatment option in both the acute and stable phases of Peyronie’s disease.

This study was based on information from medical records. Data may have been missing. Further studies are needed.