Priapism in Sickle Cell Anemia in Togo: Prevalence and Knowledge of This Complication

Abstract

Prevalence of priapism and knowledge on this disease was assessed by interviewing a group of 114 sickle cell anemia patients, 5 years and older, considered to be genotypically homogenous (Benin or #19 haplotype). Prevalence of priapism in homozygous sickle cell patients was 26.3% (30/114) and that of the control group of subjects with Hb AA was 2% (2/102) (the difference was very significant: p = 5.10-7). Actuarial probability of having priapism by 20 years of age was 69 +/- 8.5%. Few homozygous patients without a history of priapism (15.8%) have heard about priapism. This lack of knowledge, added to low accessibility of a health care system, may explain the high rate of impotence (31.6%). The results of this study led us to plan a large program of infonnation about priapism and sickle cell disease in the Togolese population.

Prevalence of Priapism and Its Awareness amongst Male Homozygous Sickle Cell Patients in Lagos, Nigeria

“…It is also similar to 42% reported amongst Jamaican patients [2] and much higher than 26.3% reported amongst Togolese in 2001 [18]. …”

Hemolysis-associated priapism in sickle cell disease

“…3 Since then, many researchers have estimated its incidence and prevalence in various populations and the choices for its treatment. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] In general, about 30% of males with SCD under the age of 20 years reported having had at least one episode of priapism, 8,11,17 whereas frequencies of 30% to 45% are estimated for adult men. 18 Among patients with priapism, about 75% had their first occurrence before the age of 20 with the mean age being around 12 to 15 years.…”

Management of Venous Priapism: Experience of Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital in Lomé (TOGO)

“…There is a fairly high rate of erectile dysfunction as a complication. The prevalence of venous priapism was 23.6% in sickle cell patients during the early 2000s in our country [3], and 27.5% in sickle cell patients in the US [6]. The prevalence is 34% in sickle cell patients in Brazzaville [7].…”

“…Priapism is an abnormally prolonged erection, lasting more than 4 hours, painful and irreducible, occurring outside of any sexual stimulation, and not leading to ejaculation. In literature, the sickle cell disease is the most common cause surrounding 50%, especially in black Africa, followed by drug etiology [1] [2] [3]. Whatever the cause, this is a real urological emergency, which suffers from the taboo nature of sexuality in our regions [4].…”