[Erectile dysfunction evaluation after brachytherapy for low risk prostate adenocarcinoma: prospective study of patients with a baseline IIEF5>16]

Erectile dysfunction and sexual quality of life in patients who underwent low-dose-rate brachytherapy alone for prostate cancer

This study evaluated erectile function and sexual quality of life (QoL), and predictive factors for erectile dysfunction (ED) and the deterioration of sexual QoL in 70 patients who underwent low-dose-rate brachytherapy (LDR-BT) alone for prostate cancer without androgen deprivation therapy. Erectile function and sexual QoL were evaluated before and 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months after LDR-BT. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether age, prostate volume, hypertension, diabetes, Brinkman's index, testosterone, baseline Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) score and post-implant dosimetry parameters could predict ED and deterioration of sexual QoL at 24 and 60 months after LDR-BT. After 24 and 60 months, ED was noted in 39 of 70 patients and 42 of 64 patients respectively. Furthermore, sexual QoL worsened in 42 of 70 and 43 of 64 patients respectively. Baseline SHIM score was identified as a significant predictor of ED (24 months: odds ratio [OR]: 0.83, p = 0.02; 60 months: OR: 0.83, p = 0.03) and the deterioration of sexual QoL (24 months: OR: 0.84, p = 0.03). LDR-BT for prostate cancer promoted decreased erectile function and sexual QoL, with high preimplant potency being a significant predictor of ED and the deterioration of sexual QoL.

Prospective four years of evaluation of erectile function after low-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy using baseline IIEF-5 > 16

Purpose

Prostate brachytherapy (BT) is a validated treatment for localized prostate cancer (CaP) and an attractive therapy option for patients seeking to preserve erectile function (EF). The aim of this paper is to prospectively assess EF evolution during 4 years after BT.

Material and methods

Between February 2007 and July 2012, 179 patients underwent an exclusive Iodine-125 BT, for low-intermediate favorable risk CaP of whom, 102 had an initial international index of erectile function 5 score (IIEF-5) > 16 and were included in the study. Of those, 12.7% received neo-adjuvant hormonotherapy (HT) to decrease the prostate volume. Post-BT intake of phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE5i) was not an exclusion criterion. Erectile function was prospectively assessed using a validated questionnaire IIEF-5 before treatment and annually for 4 years.

Results

At 1-year follow-up, 54% of patients preserved an IIEF-5 > 16 and only 8% suffered from severe ED. During the next 3 years, the results were not statistically different. The mean IIEF-5 lost 4 points during the first year, 17 vs. 21, and remained stable during the following 3 years. We did not find any significant differences in the proportion of patients treated by PDE5i (18-20%). As for patients with a normal preoperative IIEF-5 (> 21) (n = 52), 35-42% preserved a normal EF and 71-77% maintained an IIEF-5 > 16, including 13-19% of patients who needed PDE5i. Those results were stable for over 4 years.

Conclusions

During the first 4 years after BT, more than half of patients maintained an IIEF-5 > 16, and EF results remained stable. Severe erectile dysfunction (ED) was very rare.