Preparation and evaluation of fast-dissolving films of etilefrine hydrochloride for practical buccal dosing.

Etilefrine hydrochloride (ET) is an important drug in the treatment of hypotension, and parenteral injections and oral tablets are the conventional dosage forms. However, parenteral injections may cause abnormally high plasma levels as well as pain and necrosis, and oral tablets undergo first-pass metabolism. Although fast-dissolving buccal tablets were previously reported, the initial absorption rate was a little slow and the plasma levels were varied extensively. Recently, many films have been developed as novel dosage forms. Therefore, in the present study, film dosage forms containing ET were produced using water-soluble polymers and glycerin (GLY) as excipients to obtain a practical buccal dosage form. Films composed of ET, GLY, and sodium alginate (AL) exhibited good physical characteristics and rapid release in vitro (more than 70% at 2 min). The compacted AL film containing 2 mg ET (1 × 1 cm) exhibited rapid absorption (>19 ng/mL at 0.5 h), maintained an effective plasma level (>7 ng/mL) for a long time period (0.5-4 h), and had an adequate plasma concentration-time profile with a smaller standard error (<15.3 ng/mL). These results suggest that the present compacted buccal film is a superior dosage form of ET for practical use.

Absorption behavior of etilefrine after buccal administration in rats.

Etilefrine hydrochloride (ET-HCl) is used in the treatment of hypotension. Dosage forms of orally administered tablets and parenteral injections are clinically available, but exhibit unfavorable characteristics, including cardiac toxicity, headaches, and damage at the injection site for the parenteral dosage form, and initially high plasma levels, fast elimination, and first-pass effects for its oral administration. Therefore, the buccal application of ET-HCl was herein investigated as an alternative to conventional administration routes. I.v., intragastric, and buccal administration were performed using rats, and absorption features were compared. Buccal application at open conditions for 1 h exhibited absolute bioavailability of more than 20%, while the intragastric administration gave much lower bioavailability (<10%). The drug residue and drug distribution in the oral mucosa were investigated in order to clarify drug transfer behaviors. In the application of ET-HCl solution using a cotton ball, higher plasma concentrations and their maintenance at higher levels were achieved at 10 mg/kg than at 2.5 mg/kg. In addition, absorption was greater with a longer application (4 h) than with a shorter application (1 h). Etilefrine (ET) was rapidly absorbed using aqueous buffer of pH 9.5 as the solvent. Open application was appropriate for achieving and maintaining higher plasma levels. Thus, in the buccal application of ET-HCl aqueous droplets, a wide distribution throughout the mucosal surface is important for achieving rapid absorption and the maintenance of plasma levels. These findings suggested that the buccal application should be feasible administration of ET-HCl.

Successful Management of Chylothorax With Etilefrine: Case Report in 2 Pediatric Patients.

Chylothorax is defined as the accumulation of chyle within the pleural space. Originally described in 1917 by Pisek, it is the most common cause of pleural effusion in the neonatal period. The leading cause of chylothorax is laceration of the thoracic duct during surgery, which occurs in 0.85% to 6.6% of children undergoing cardiothoracic surgery. Few authors of reports in the literature have looked at etilefrine, a relatively unknown sympathomimetic, as an option for the medical treatment of chylothorax. In this case report, we review the clinical course of 2 infants with type III esophageal atresia who developed chylothorax after thoracic surgery and were successfully treated with intravenous etilefrine after failing initial dietary and pharmacological management.

[A Case of Successful Management of Postoperative Chylous Ascites by Combination Therapy with Octreotide and Etilefrine].

We have report a case of an 81-year-old woman who underwent distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic body cancer. Chy- lous ascites with high triglyceride(TG)level, 201mg/dL, occurred on postoperative day 2. Continuous drainage and conservative management, such as low fat diet, fasting, total parental nutrition, and octreotide monotherapy, could not resolve the problem. Successful treatment was achieved using subcutaneous octreotide injection and intravenous etilefrine infusion without any adverse side-effect. These medications were able to cause smooth muscle contraction in the thoracic duct, and also to reduce chyle flow. The amount of drainage decreased and the TG level was restored to 66mg/dL. The drainage tube was removed on postoperative day 22, 5 days after the start of both octreotide and etilefrine. This combination therapy with octreotide and etilefrine would be one of effective and safety treatment for management of postoperative intractable chylous ascites.

New Combined Medical Treatment With Etilefrine and Octreotide for Chylothorax After Esophagectomy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Postoperative chylothorax is a rare but well-known complication of general thoracic surgery. Medical treatment of chylothorax was reported in the past, but there is still considerable controversy on the appropriate management strategies.Two patients with esophageal cancer underwent esophagectomy, 2-field lymph node dissection, and resection of thoracic duct together with ileocolic reconstruction via the retrosternal route at our hospital. Chylothorax developed on the 32nd postoperative day (POD) in 1 patient and the 12th POD in the other, manifesting as a change in the character of thoracic drainage to turbid white. Both were immediately started on octreotide (300 µg/ day) and etilefrine (120 mg/day). When the amount of pleural effusion decreased to <50 mL/day, we performed pleurodesis with Picibanil (OK432). Thereafter, the patients gradually made satisfactory progress and resumed oral food intake, and the thoracotomy tubes were eventually removed. They have remained recurrence-free at the time of writing.In this report, we demonstrated the clinical efficacy of etilefrine for the management of postesophagectomy chylothorax. New medical treatment options for this condition are now broad and the usefulness of combined therapy consisting of a sclerosing agent, etilefrine, and octreotide is underscored, regardless of the status of the thoracic duct.

Evaluation of cardiovascular changes in dogs administered three positive controls using jacketed external telemetry-blood pressure (JET-BP).

INTRODUCTION: Nonclinical safety studies are increasingly incorporating cardiac safety endpoints to discover potential cardiovascular liabilities. This trend for more thorough cardiovascular nonclinical safety evaluation is prudent given the high attrition rate of potential therapeutics due to unexpected cardiovascular liabilities discovered in late-stage clinical trials or post-market approval. In particular, the causal relationship of blood pressure changes that lead to risk of major adverse cardiac events suggests hemodynamic changes should be critically evaluated in preclinical studies of novel therapeutics. METHODS: Jacketed external telemetry with an implanted miniature blood pressure transmitter (JET-BP) was used to characterize the tolerability, functionality, and sensitivity of this study design in dogs. Thirty-six male or female beagles (n=6 dogs/sex/group) were administered vehicle control (reverse osmosis water) or etilefrine (1, 10mg/kg), sotalol (3, 30mg/kg), and hydralazine (1, 10mg/kg) on separate days. Telemetry data were evaluated for positive control article-related changes and retrospective power analysis was also completed. Animals were evaluated for instrumentation-related changes in clinical and anatomic pathology endpoints. RESULTS: All three positive controls elicited the expected pharmacologic responses that were statistically different at high and low doses. Retrospective power analysis confirmed this study design was able to statistically differentiate minor (approximately 5 to 15%) changes in electrocardiography and blood pressure values. This study also demonstrated the potential advantages of combining cardiovascular data across sex when the test article exposure and pharmacodynamics were consistent. Data collection using miniature telemetry blood pressure transmitters did not result in anatomic or clinical pathology findings that would prevent their use in general toxicology studies. DISCUSSION: This characterization study indicates that JET-BP in dogs offers a scientifically-robust method to evaluate novel therapeutics for potential cardiovascular liabilities.

Practical application of color Doppler ultrasonography in patients with ejaculatory dysfunction.

We describe two cases in which dynamic analysis of ejaculation using color Doppler ultrasonography was useful in diagnosis of ejaculatory dysfunction and planning of therapy. The first patient was a 32-year-old man with a diagnosis of retrograde ejaculation. A bladder neck collagen injection was carried out, as the main cause was thought to be the bladder neck remaining open during ejaculation. The patient had antegrade ejaculation 1 week later. The second patient was a 48-year-old man with a diagnosis of anorgasmia accompanied by decreased seminal emission and insufficient function of the rhythmic pelvic striated muscles. The patient was prescribed etilefrine hydrochloride 15 mg/day. The symptom improved 2 weeks after starting this drug. These cases suggest that the use of color Doppler ultrasonography during ejaculation can improve the understanding of ejaculatory dysfunction and therapy for this condition.

Measurement of hyper- and hypotension during repeated dose toxicity studies in either freely moving or physically restrained cynomolgus monkeys.

INTRODUCTION: The measurement of cardiovascular endpoints in standard toxicology studies remains a challenge as the routinely used non-invasive methods require physical restraint, causing an increase of sympathetic neural activity, leading to excitement and potentially hypertension in the experimental animals. In this study, a miniature telemetry blood pressure transmitter was used to evaluate if the acute hyper- and hypotension could be detected in free moving cynomolgus monkeys as well as physically restrained animals using positive control drugs. Furthermore, as a comparator, routine high definition oscillometry (HDO) was performed in restrained animals. METHODS: Hemodynamic parameters were monitored continuously from conscious, freely moving animals following oral administration of vehicle (water) or 1 and 10mg/kg of etilefrine, and 1 and 4mg/kg of dihydralazine as positive control articles. A second dose session was performed to confirm the reproducibility of results and a third dose session combined with physical restraint procedures for blood collection and HDO measurements. RESULTS: There was a dose-dependent, statistically significant increase in the systolic blood pressure following oral doses of etilefrine at all 3 dose sessions. This effect was less apparent during session 3, probably due to the physical restraint applied for the blood sampling and HDO measurement. No differences in the blood pressure were measured using HDO. On all three dose sessions following oral doses of dihydralazine the expected statistically significant decrease in the diastolic pressure could be clearly measured even when the telemetric data recordings were combined with physical restraint. DISCUSSION: Due to the advantages of the minimally invasive telemetry technique compared to HDO and the possibility of prolonged measurement periods, it is an invaluable tool for blood pressure measurement in freely moving animals in toxicology studies.

Etilefrina para la corrección de la hipotensión arterial materna durante cesáreas bajo bloque subaracnoideo y riesgo de hipoglucemia neonatal, Hospital Guillermo Almenara, Enero a Marzo del 2013 / Etilefrine for correction of maternal hypotension during caesarean section with subarachnoid block and risk of neonatal hypoglycemia, Hospital Guillermo Almenara, January to March 2013

Introducción: El presente estudio analizó casos de gestantes sometidas a bloqueo subaracnoideo (BSA) para cesárea y que necesitaron el uso de etilefrina para la corrección de la hipotensión arterial materna. Métodos: Se incluyeron a las gestantes sometidas a cesárea bajo BSA en el periodo enero a marzo del 2013, en el Hospital Almenara de Lima Perú, se excluyeron a los neonatos inmaduros, con RCIU, hijos de madres diabéticas, con enfermedad hemolítica RH, con asfixia, sepsis, policitemia y/o hipotermia neonatal, y se compararon las glicemias de la primera y segunda hora de vida de los neonatos, agrupados según el factor de exposición (administración de etilefrina a sus madres durante la cesárea), mediante la prueba estadística del t de student y en tablas de contingencia se calculó el riesgo relativo para la exposición. Resultados: La edad promedio para ambos grupos de pacientes es 30 años, la talla promedio del grupo expuesto es 1.55m y del grupo no expuesto es 1.57m, la mediana para el peso del grupo expuesto es 69 Kg y del grupo no expuesto es 72 Kg, la mediana para la edad gestacional del grupo expuesto es 38 semanas y del grupo no expuesto es 39 semanas. El promedio del peso de los neonatos del grupo expuesto es 3318 g y del grupo no expuesto es 3444 g. El promedio de la glicemia en la primera hora de vida de los neonatos del grupo expuesto es 57 mg/dl y del grupo no expuesto es 56 mg/dl; el promedio de la glicemia en la segunda hora de vida de los neonatos del grupo expuesto es 63 mg/dl y del grupo no expuesto es 65 mg/dl. La prueba de t de student para el promedio de las glicemias a la primera y segunda hora de vida de los neonatos, no mostró diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos, pero en las tablas de contingencia se calculó un riesgo relativo para el factor de exposición de 2.68 (IC 95 por ciento 0.68 a 10.47), es decir la exposición es un factor de riesgo pero sin asociación causal. Conclusiones: Existe mayor riesgo de hipoglicemia neonatal...

Background: The present study analyzed cases of pregnant women undergoing subarachnoid block (BSA) for cesarean section and requiring the use of ethylephrine to correct maternal hypotension. Methods: We included pregnant women undergoing cesarean section under BSA in the period January to March 2013, at the Hospital Almenara in Lima Peru, were excluded immature newborns with IUGR, newborns of diabetic mothers with RH hemolytic disease, with asphyxia, sepsis, polycythemia and/or neonatal hypothermia and compared the glucose levels of the first and second hour of life for newborns, grouped according to the exposure factor (ethylephrine administration to their mothers during caesarean section), using the statistical test Student's t contingency tables and calculated the relative risk for exposure. Results: The average age for both groups of patients is 30 years, the average size of the exposed group is 1.55m the unexposed group is 1.57m, the median weight is 69 kg exposed group and the unexposed group is 72 kg, the median gestational age of 38 weeks is exposed group and the unexposed group is 39 weeks. The average weight of the newborns in the exposed group is 3318 g and the unexposed group is 3444 g. The mean blood glucose in the first hour of life of newborns exposed group is 57 mg/dI and the unexposed group is 56 mg/dI, the mean blood glucose during the second hour of life of newborns in the exposed group is 63 mg/dI. and the unexposed group is 65 mg/dI. The Student t test for average blood glucose for the first and second hour of life of newborns showed no significant differences between both groups, but in the contingency tables was calculated relative risk for the exposure factor of 2.68 (95 per cent Cl 0.68 to 10.47), the exposure is a risk factor but no causal association. Conclusions: There is increased risk of neonatal hypoglycemia associated with the use of ethylephrine to correct maternal hypotension during caesarean section under BSA.

Etilefrina en infusión como alternativa para estabilidad cardiovascular en cesáreas con anestesia espinal / Etilefrine in infusion as an alternative to cardiovascular stability in cesarean section with spinal anesthesia

La incidencia de la operación cesárea en nuestro país y en otros países del mundo ha ido en ascenso, por lo que el Anestesiólogo debe conocer las indicaciones y contraindicaciones de cada método anestésico. La anestesia regional es la indicación inicial y mandatoria salvo precisas condiciones que justifiquen llevar a una gestante a anestesia general cuya morbimortalidad es 16-17 veces mayor y las complicaciones más graves (dificultad o imposibilidad para intubación endotraqueal, ventilación fallida, neumonía por aspiración, trauma dental, náuseas y vómitos postoperatorios, lactancia demorada y sedación del recién nacido). La técnica regional permite óptimas condiciones quirúrgicas con hemodinamia estable, una madre despierta, facilita el alivio efectivo del dolor postoperatorio, por lo que en su mayoría se aplica anestesia subaracnoidea (espinal), sin embargo el efecto adverso más apreciado lo es la hipotensión arterial con una incidencia entre 40 y 100 por ciento, la cual puede representar un serio riesgo para la madre (náuseas, vómitos, inconsciencia, aspiración pulmonar, apnea o incluso paro cardíaco) y para el niño (daño en la perfusión placentaria que lleve a la hipoxia, acidosis fetal y daño neurológico). La frecuente ocurrencia y el rápido inicio de la hipotensión durante la anestesia espinal han estimulado a los Anestesiólogos a tratarla y prevenirla. Hoy se usan estrategias: métodos físicos (bandas elásticas y elevación de las piernas, lateralización del útero), líquidos intravenosos (cristaloides/coloides) y medicamentos simpaticomiméticos como Efedrina y Fenilefrina. Efedrina profiláctica disminuye la incidencia de hipotensión materna (de 85 a 5 por ciento) por vía intramuscular 25 ó 50mg inmediatamente luego de aplicada la anestesia, o vía endovenosa en bolos de 5 ó 10mg. También se ha utilizado Fenilefrina. En nuestro medio sólo disponemos de Etilefrina. En la gran mayoría de la práctica se usa como tratamiento más no como profilaxis de...

The incidence of cesarean section in our country and in other countries has been increasing, so that the anesthesiologist should know the indications and contraindications of each anesthetic method. Regional anesthesia is the initial indication and accurate except mandatory conditions that justify carrying a pregnant woman whose morbidity general anesthesia is 16 to 17 times larger and more serious complications (difficulty or inability to endotracheal intubation, failed ventilation, aspiration pneumonia, trauma dental, postoperative nausea and vomiting, delayed breastfeeding and sedation of the newborn). The regional technique allows optimal surgical conditions with stable hemodynamics, a mother awakens, facilitates effective postoperative pain relief, so that mostly applies subarachnoid (spinal), however the side effect is most appreciated as arterial hypotension an incidence between 40 and 100 per cent, which can be a serious risk to the mother (nausea, vomiting, unconsciousness, pulmonary aspiration, apnea or cardiac arrest) and child (damage to placental perfusion leading to hypoxia, acidosis fetal neurological damage). The frequent occurrence and the rapid onset of hypotension during spinal anesthesia have encouraged anesthesiologists to treat and prevent. Today we use strategies: physical (elastic bands and leg elevation, lateralization of the uterus), intravenous fluids (crystalloid / colloid) and sympathomimetic drugs such as Ephedrine and Phenylephrine. Prophylactic Ephedrine decreases the incidence of maternal hypotension (85 to 5 per cent) 25 or 50mg intramuscularly immediately after given anesthesia or intravenous bolus of 5 or 10mg. Phenylephrine has also been used. In our environment we have only Etilefrine. In the vast majority of the practice is not used as a prophylactic treatment of hypotension being therapeutic use conventional bolus objective whenever a drop in arterial pressure added to it symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Etilefrine is...

Type IV reaction due to phenylephrine administered nasally with cross-reactivity with ethylephrine.

Type IV hypersensitivity eye reactions have been described after the administration of the sympathomimetic agent phenylephrine. We report the case of an atopic woman who developed nasal congestion and discharge, dysphagia, and dyspnea 1 hour after the administration of Stopcold pills and Disneumon Pernasal nasal spray for otitis. The same symptoms reappeared after the accidental administration of Rinobanedif ointment in the nasal mucosa. Skin patch tests were performed with a standard True Test panel, preservatives, Disneumon Pernasal, pseudoephedrine, eyedrops (tropicamide, cyclopentolate, and phenylephrine), and other sympathomimetic agents. The patient also underwent oral, ocular, and nasal controlled challenges with the same drugs. Finally, patch tests were performed in 11 controls with phenylephrine and ethylephrine. Our patient had a positive outcome in patch testing with nickel sulphate, fragrance mix, phenylephrine, and ethylephrine. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a type IV reaction to nasally administered phenylephrine with cross-reactivity with ethylephrine detected by patch testing.

Indications, surgical technique, and long-term experience with laparoscopic closure of the nephrosplenic space in standing horses.

OBJECTIVE: To describe surgical technique and outcome after laparoscopic closure of the nephrosplenic space for treatment of recurrent left dorsal displacement of the left colon (LDDLC) in standing horses. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: Forty-four horses with LDDLC. METHODS: Laparoscopic portals were located in the left flank region. After administration of etilefrin intravenously to contract the spleen, the dorsal splenic margin was sutured to the nephrosplenic ligament to obliterate the nephrosplenic space. Horses were re-examined (< or = 3 years) for history of recurrence. In addition, medical records of 4,852 horses treated for colic over 16 years were evaluated to establish incidence of LDDLC and recurrence after treatment. RESULTS: Splenic contraction facilitated suture placement and closure of the nephrosplenic space was achieved without complications. LDDLC recurrence did not occur although 5 horses had subsequent episodes of colic; 4 horses had displacement of the ascending colon between the spleen and body wall. Review of medical records revealed an incidence of LDDLC of 6% and recurrence of 21% in a population of horses with signs of colic. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic closure of the nephrosplenic space, facilitated by etilefrin-induced splenic contraction can be efficiently performed in standing horses. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Laparoscopic ablation of the nephrosplenic space should be considered in horses that are predisposed to recurrent LDDLC.

Intracavernosal etilefrine self-injection therapy for recurrent priapism: one decade of follow-up.

Recurrent idiopathic priapism is a rare condition that, if not properly treated, may lead to impaired quality of life and erectile dysfunction. Treatment can be achieved by prevention of priapism episodes with systemic therapy or by early intervention with intracavernosal self-injection of sympathomimetic agents. We describe a case of a young patient with recurrent idiopathic priapism who has used etilefrine self-injection for the past 10 years with good efficacy and libido and erectile function preservation. This report suggests that this approach may be safely indicated in selected cases, particularly when sexual function preservation is a major concern.

Priapism in a patient with unstable hemoglobin: hemoglobin Köln.

We report a case of severe priapism occurring in a patient with unstable hemoglobin, hemoglobin Köln, and underline several factors that may have contributed to this complication: abnormal plasticity of red cells, splenectomy, and cytomegalovirus infection. Since emergency treatment may prevent impotence, patients and parents should be educated about this complication.

[Priapism in the course of generalized atopic dermatitis]. / Priapisme au cours d'une dermatite atopique généralisée.

BACKGROUND: Priapism is a pathologically prolonged and painful penile erection, not resulting in ejaculation. Causes include certain oral medication, perineal trauma, thrombo-embolic process or primary priapism. We report a case of priapism secondary to diffuse general atopic dermatitis. CASE REPORT: An 11 year-old child, with atopic dermatitis, presented over the last 36 hours an irreduced painful penile erection. Other than priapism, he presented numerous scratched lesions on the body and the penis having developped over the last 2 months (treated by daily topical corticosteroid application) and consistent with atopic dermatitis exacerbation. Due to the urological emergency, a puncture of the corpora cavernosa was made, followed by an injection of etilephrine in the penis. Complete and definitive detumescence was obtained. Application of betamethasone healed the cutaneous lesions. The child was treated with ciclosporine for his atopic dermatitis with good results at 6 months. DISCUSSION: In our case, hypothesis of myeloid leukemia, sickle-cell disease and essential thrombocythemia were turned down. The young child did not exhibit any recent perineal trauma but the scratched lesions can be considered as microtraumas. The formation of an inflammatory oedema obstructed venous drainage of the penis and provoked priapism. We can not rule out the responsibility of topical corticosteroids in the formation of the priapism in this patient. Indeed, it was the only drug therapy prescribed, and since introduction of ciclosporine, there has been no relapse.

Síndrome serotoninérgico peor sertralina y etilefrina: una interacción no descrita / Serotoninergic syndrome by sertraline and etiletrine: not documented interaction

Se describe un caso de síndrome serotoninérgico por interacción de sertralina y etilefrina (Efortil). Se trata de una interacción no documentada hasta la fecha, relevante por la alta frecuencia de uso de ambos fármacos, y de carácter potencial mente letal (AU)

Management of sickle cell priapism with etilefrine.

Intracavernous injections of etilefrine were effective in seven children with acute sickle cell priapism, and stuttering priapism resolved in five children after one to seven months of oral etilefrine. Compared with our previous reports in adults, etilefrine appears to be more effective in childhood.

[Sickle cell disease priapism: treatment with intracavernous injections of etilefrine]. / Priapisme drépanocytaire: prise en charge par injections intracaverneuses d'étilefrine.

Intracavernous injection (ICI) of adrenergic agonists has recently been proposed for treatment of priapism associated with sickle cell hemoglobinopathy and appears to be effective in cases less than 28 hours old. The purpose of this study was to confirm the usefulness of this technique in a large series of patients. From January 1996 through September 1998, 19 patients with sickle cell disease were treated by ICI of etilefrine for one or several episodes of low-flow priapism lasting between 2 hours and 15 days. A total of 72 consecutive ICI were performed alone in patients with priapism less than 6 hours old or in combination with prior drainage in patients with priapism more than 6 hours old. Results depended mainly on the delay to treatment. Detumescence was achieved in all 10 cases treated within 29 hours as opposed to only 2 of 9 cases treated beyond 29 hours. This finding is in agreement with experimental findings demonstrating histological evidence of necrosis of endothelial cells and cavernous smooth muscle fibers after 24 hours. However based on our experience showing that good results with preservation of erectile function can be achieved after delays longer than 40 hours (42 hours and 5 days in two of our patients), we recommend that treatment by ICI be tried before surgery in sickle cell anemia patients even with long-standing priapism. Untoward side effects including intense pain in the penis and retrosternal pain were observed in 4 patients. ICI of adrenergic agonists is one of the best treatment currently available for management of priapism in patients with sickle cell disease. Surgery should be used only after failure of ICI.

[Intracavernous injections of etilefrin: its efficacy in the treatment of priapism in sickle cell patients]. / Injections intracaverneuses d'étiléfrine: efficacité dans le traitement curatif des épisodes de priapisme chez le drépanocytaire.

OBJECTIVE: To date, the treatment of priapism in sickle-cell patients has relied on measures aimed at lowering blood viscosity and acidosis and reducing the level of circulating hemoglobin S (hyperhydration, alkalinization, or exsanguinotransfusion...) Surgical cavernous-venous shunt may be proposed if conservative treatment fails. We examined the efficacy of intracavernous etilefrin injections. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1996 through October 1997 (20 months) we performed 35 consecutive intracavernous injections of an alphastimulant, etilefrin in 7 sickle-cell patients (6 SS, 1 AS) who had experienced one or several episodes of low-flow priapism lasting 2 to 28 hours. RESULTS: Involution of the tumefaction was rapidly achieved in all cases. Tolerance was satisfactory, although some post-injection undesirable effects were reported by certain patients: moderate transient pain (2-5 min) in the retrosternal area, or intense pain in the penis (more intense than the priapism) which lasted 10 to 30 minutes. This work confirmed the earlier reported efficacy of intracavernous injections of etilefrin and suggests that the autonomous nervous system plays an important role in the genesis of this condition in sickle-cell patients. Patients should be informed about the observed undesirable effects which have not been reported previously in the literature. CONCLUSION: Etilefrin can be proposed as first line treatment for priapism in sickle-cell patients (at least in cases lasting less than 24 h). The pathogenic mechanism could involve neuromuscular dysfunction.