Calcification in Peyronie's disease: Its role and clinical influence on the various symptoms and signs of the disease, including psychological impact. Our study of 551 patients

Abstract

Background: The aim of study was to evaluate the impact of plaque calcification on symptoms of patients with Peyronie’s disease (PD) and to evaluate mental health in PD patients with or without calcification. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the clinical database of a single andrology clinic. We extracted 551 PD patients, and we sorted them into two groups: the first group included 201 PD patients with plaque calcification; the second group included 350 PD patients without plaque calcification. The inclusion criteria for both groups were as follows: aged between 21 and 81 years; thorough and available data on clinical history; baseline levels of blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, cholesterol, and triglycerides; photographic documentation of the penile curvature; dynamic penile eco-color Doppler ultrasound with plaque measurements and volume calculation; and completion of the generalized anxiety disorder—7 questionnaire, patient health questionnaire—9 (for depression), visual analog scale for penile pain measurements, and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. Results: Plaque calcification was present in 36.4% of cases. The presence of calcification affects the presence and severity of penile curvature. Calcification is associated with the presence of hypertension. In PD patients, the prevalence of significant anxiety and significant depression was 89.1% and 57.3%, respectively. Calcification is associated with the presence of anxiety and depression but does not lead to an increase in their prevalence. Conclusions: In PD patients, the calcification was present in more than one third of cases. The size of the plaque calcification was < 15 mm in most cases. Calcification influences the presence of the curve and influences its severity. There was a prominent prevalence of anxiety and depression in PD patients.