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Heparin-induced priapism

Abstract

Heparin-induced priapism constitutes a special form of pharmaco-induced prolonged erection, but the pathophysiological principles are not yet definitely clear. Heparin-induced antiplatelet-antibodies may lead to the aggregation of thrombocytes and thus alter the penile blood flow leading to low-flow priapism. Alternatively, this condition may be explained by initial high-flow priapism that later turns into ischemic priapism. The question remains whether hemorrhage with subsequent organisation of the hematoma and late fibrosis constitutes a pathogenetic factor. Besides this pathogenetic discussion, this paper presents the differential diagnosis of priapism as well as diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

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Correspondence to EW Hauck.

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Bschleipfer, T., Hauck, E., Diemer, T. et al. Heparin-induced priapism. Int J Impot Res 13, 357–359 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3900759

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