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Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of erectile dysfunction: A meta-analysis of controlled and single-arm trials

Shaokang Du, Shiwei Sun, Fuyu Guo, Hongyao Liu

PLoS ONE, 2024

991 participants · 11 citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a prevalent condition in urology, and studies on the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for this condition have been conducted; however, the evidence remains inconclusive. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of PRP in treating ED. METHODS: On May 17, 2024, a literature search was performed and evaluated using the Cochrane method. The primary outcome measured was the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score, while the secondary outcomes included Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) and peak systolic velocity (PSV). RESULTS: A total of 12 controlled trials involving 991 patients and 11 single-arm trials with 377 patients were analyzed. The findings revealed that compared to the control group, the PRP group demonstrated better outcomes in terms of the IIEF score and MCID (SMD = 0.59 (95% CI: [0.34, 0.84]; RR = 1.94 (95% CI: [1.33, 2.83]), In the single-arm trials, a significant improvement in IIEF scores was observed following PRP treatment (SMD = -0.99 95% CI: [-1.53, 0.46]). CONCLUSION: PRP appears effective in treating erectile dysfunction, but further high-quality, large-sample trials with longer follow-up are needed to fully understand its effects.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 991 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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