BUENOS AIRES (Reuters Health) - A course of injections of alpha-interferon (Intron-A) seems to improve penile curvature and sexual satisfaction in men with Peyronie's disease, American urologists reported here on Wednesday at the meeting of the International Society for Sexual and Impotence Research.

In Peyronie's disease, dense fibrous tissue forms around the corpus cavernosum of the penis, causing deformity and painful erections. In severe cases, surgery is needed to correct the condition, but the current findings suggest that interferon injections into the lesions may offer an alternative.

"This minimally invasive therapy may help to avoid the need for surgical intervention," said Dr. Lawrence Hakim, of the Cleveland Clinic, in Florida.

Hakim's team treated 30 patients with penile plaque build-up and curvature ranging from 10 to 75 degrees. Two thirds of them also experienced mild to moderate erectile dysfunction.

All the patients underwent injections of interferon into the affected areas of the penis every two weeks. Based on their response, patients were given a 12 or 24-week course of treatment, i.e., 6 or 12 injections.

Hakim said that 75 percent of patients reported that they were satisfied with the treatment, with significant improvement in curvature and comfort during sex -- with or without taking Viagra or similar anti-impotence drugs.

"The treatment eases intercourse, and that is the most important measure (of efficacy)," Hakim told Reuters Health.

Side effects of the therapy were minimal, with less than 20 percent of patients reporting flu-like symptoms -- a common result of interferon treatment -- which could be relieved with simple painkillers.

"In our study the majority of patients were able to avoid surgery," Hakim said. A larger study with longer clinical is ongoing, he added.

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