Case Report: Severe ischemic priapism as the clinical presentation in patient with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) treated by proximal shunt

Abstract

Background: Priapism refers to an erection of the penis that persists for four hours or more and is not associated with sexual arousal or stimulation. This condition is thought to be caused by abnormal production of blood cells in the bone marrow, which leads to the release of certain chemicals into the bloodstream. The current article presents a severe ischemic priapism case, and assesses and contrasts the documented instances of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who experienced priapism as their primary clinical symptom over the last two decades. Case presentation: The 21-year-old male patient presented with persistent and painful erections for three days. Further tests revealed he had CML and ischemic priapism. He was treated with distal shunting and proximal shunting with cytoreductive therapy to resolve the symptoms. Conclusions: Priapism is a medical emergency that can cause permanent damage to the erectile tissue if not treated promptly. Prolonged and painful erections can cause ischemia, leading to tissue damage and decreased function. If priapism is caused by an underlying medical condition; delaying treatment can allow the underlying condition to progress and become more difficult to treat.