Table 2.
Retrospective priapism characteristics of a cohort of men with sickle cell anemia enrolled in the priapism study (n = 73)
| Characteristic | Summary statistics |
|---|---|
| Age at first priapism event, mean (SD) | 18.7 (4.3) |
| Priapism events in the past 12 mo, median (IQR) | 8.0 (4.0-25.0) |
| Duration of priapism event (min), median (IQR) | 120.0 (45.0-180.0) |
| Priapism triggers,∗n (%) | |
| Sleep | 38 (52.1) |
| Sexual urge | 18 (24.7) |
| Dehydration | 4 (5.5) |
| Fever | 4 (5.5) |
| Drugs | 1 (1.4) |
| Other | 6 (8.2) |
| Don't know | 19 (26.0) |
| Location of priapism pain, n (%) | |
| All over the penis | 40 (54.8) |
| Penis shaft | 20 (27.4) |
| Whole perineum | 7 (9.6) |
| Glans penis | 6 (8.2) |
| Nature of priapism pain,∗n (%) | |
| Piercing | 35 (47.9) |
| Throbbing | 28 (38.4) |
| Burning | 25 (34.2) |
| Cramping | 10 (13.7) |
| Crushing | 9 (12.3) |
| Stabbing | 4 (5.5) |
| Other | 3 (4.1) |
| Priapism pain on a scale from 1 (mild) to 10 (excruciating/ worst possible), median (IQR) | 7.0 (5.0-8.0) |
| Priapism pain radiates to other parts of the body, n (%) | 5 (6.8) |
| When pain radiates, to what other parts of the body, n (%); n = 5 | |
| Abdomen | 2 (40.0) |
| Hip | 1 (20.0) |
| Thigh | 1 (20.0) |
| Other | 1 (20.0) |
| Coping mechanisms that relieve priapism events at home,∗n (%) | |
| Exercise | 44 (60.3) |
| Cold shower | 25 (34.2) |
| Hot shower | 11 (15.1) |
| Ice pack | 3 (4.1) |
| Analgesics | 3 (4.1) |
| Other | 3 (4.1) |
| None | 11 (15.1) |
| Sought medical treatment for priapism in the past 12 mo, n (%) | 25 (34.2) |
| Which medical treatment(s) worked,∗n (%); n = 25 | |
| Stilbesterol | 6 (24.0) |
| Analgesics | 6 (24.0) |
| Hydroxyurea | 3 (12.0) |
| None | 12 (48.0) |
| Penile aspiration in the past 12 mo, n (%) | 2 (2.7) |
| Surgical shunt in the past 12 mo, n (%) | 1 (1.4) |
| Medications currently on for priapism, n (%); n = 71 | |
| Stilbesterol | 5 (7.1) |
| Hydroxyurea | 3 (4.3) |
| Analgesics | 2 (2.9) |
| None | 61 (87.1) |
| Any priapism associated with vaso-occlusive pain, n (%); n = 72 | 11 (15.3) |
| If associated, when did the vaso-occlusive pain occur, n (%); n = 11 | |
| Just before priapism | 4 (36.4) |
| Along with priapism | 3 (27.3) |
| Immediately after priapism | 4 (36.4) |
| How does priapism pain compare with typical pain crisis, n (%) | |
| Better | 41 (56.2) |
| Similar | 15 (20.5) |
| Worse | 17 (23.3) |
SD, standard deviation.
∗
More than 1 response allowed.