Prospective study to evaluate the clinical outcome of intralesional interferon-α2b in the management of Peyronie's disease.

Context: Interferon (IFN)-α2b in Peyronie's disease (PD).

Aims: This study aims to evaluate clinical efficacy of the IFN-α2b in both subjective and objective manner for the treatment of PD and compared with previously used intralesional verapamil in terms of cost-benefit analysis.

Settings and Design: Prospective study.

Materials and Methods: A prospective study conducted from January 2013 to July 2016 in the Department of Urology, Government Medical College, Kota, Rajasthan, India. We included patients with identifiable Peyronie's plaque with or without pain, curvature ranging between 30 and 90 degrees. We excluded patients with a calcified plaque and the ventral location of the plaque, any infective foci over the penis, erectile dysfunction due to other etiologies and patients who had received previous intralesional therapy. Patients were evaluated by clinical history, physical examination including plaque location, size, consistency, and penile curvature. Patients received intralesional IFN-α2b in a dose of 3 × 106 IU. Patients completed the visual analogue pain (VAS) score for pain, and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) questionnaire at first visit as well as at follow-up of 1 month and 3 months.

Statistical Analysis Used: Comparisons were performed using the paired Student's t -test and Chi-square tests as appropriate. Patient's objective and subjective clinical characteristics were described as a means (standard deviation).

Results: We included 86 patients in this study. Patients had a mean age of 48.6 years, mean plaque volume 256 mm3 , and disease duration of 15.2 years. After 1 month of treatment, there was a significant change in plaque volume 256-60.8 mm3 ; P < 0.01) and penile curvature 34.8-24.6°; P < 0.01). The patients reported significant improvement in pain score VAS and IIEF-5.

Conclusions: IFN-α2b, as minimal invasive (intralesional) options for the treatment of PD, demonstrated significant improvement in plaque volume, penile curvature with minimal complications. Patients subjectively reported significant improvement in pain on erection and sexual activities. IFN-α2b and verapamil had an almost similar clinical outcome, but verapamil at much lower cost.