Information for Health Professionals
Priapism
Priapism, a prolonged erection of the penis that may lead to impotence, is a specific type of painful crisis that commonly occurs in patients with sickle cell disease. The current treatment of priapism can be improved by comparing therapeutic strategies in prospective clinical trials, but first an assessment of the natural history of priapism is needed. A project funded by the NHLBI CSCC program is underway at the 10 centers. This project will conduct an interview of 1,650 males with sickle cell disease in order to determine in which patients, how often, and under what circumstances priapism occurs.
Two information brochures have been developed with funds from this study to provide information about priapism:
-
Priapism and Sickle Cell Disease in Adult Males -- Questions & Answers* -
Priapism and Sickle Cell Disease in Boys -- Questions & Answers*