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Low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy for erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy: a review of preclinical studies

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 30, pages 1–7 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (LI-ESWT) is a novel treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED). Its ability to improve erectile function has been shown in patients with vasculogenic ED by many randomized-controlled trials against sham procedures. However, the role of LI-ESWT in ED caused by radical prostatectomy (RP) is still questionable because this type of ED was excluded from nearly all clinical studies; it has been investigated in only a few small single-arm trials. This review summarizes preclinical studies on mechanisms of action of LI-ESWT for ED and neurological diseases to explore the potential of this treatment for nerve-impaired ED after RP.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Science and Technology Foundation of the Sichuan Province (2014JY0183 to Y.-p.L.) and the Science and Technology Foundation of the Chengdu City (2014-HM01-00301-SF to Y.-p.L.).

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China

      Zi-jun Zou, Jia-yu Liang, Zhi-hong Liu & Yi-ping Lu

    2. Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350005, China

      Rui Gao

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    Correspondence to Rui Gao or Yi-ping Lu.

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    Zi-jun Zou and Jia-yu Liang contributed equally to this work.

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    Zou, Zj., Liang, Jy., Liu, Zh. et al. Low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy for erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy: a review of preclinical studies. Int J Impot Res 30, 1–7 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-017-0002-6

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