Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy beneficial in mild-to-moderate ED

In the treatment of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED), low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (Li-ESWT) is safe and effective for some patients, particularly those with mild-to-moderate ED, a study suggests.

A total of 425 men with vasculogenic ED (assessed using the Sexual Health Inventory for Men [SHIM] score) participated in the study. All of them received Li-ESWT using the PiezoWave2 (Richard Wolf) device. Successful Li-ESWT was defined as SHIM score of 22–25 at 6 months. Those with successful treatment were followed for 30 months.

Mean SHIM score at baseline was 11.8, with a range of 5–20. Half of the population (n=220, 51.8 percent) patients reported satisfactory sexual intercourse at 6 months after treatment.

Factors including age, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, obesity, hyperlipidaemia, pretreatment SHIM score, and the duration of ED were all significantly associated with the success of Li-ESWT.

At the 30-month follow-up, 168 (76.3 percent) patients who responded to Li-ESWT still reported satisfactory sexual intercourse with a SHIM score of 22–25 without requiring an oral phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor.

The findings showed that as much as 39.5 percent of the patients achieved 30-month success with Li-ESWT. This intervention may be offered to patients with mild-to-moderate ED but not to those with severe ED.