Johnson, M; Murphy, E; Raheem, A; Ralph, D; (2018) Poorly Controlled Homocystinuria: A Rare Cause of Ischemic Priapism? Sexual Medicine , 6 (2) pp. 171-173. 10.1016/j.esxm.2017.12.003.

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Abstract

We report on the 1st case of ischemic priapism secondary to poorly controlled homocystinuria. Homocystinuria is a rare, autosomal recessive, inherited disorder of metabolism that is caused by a deficiency of cystathionine synthase, leading to marked hyperhomocysteinemia. Arterial and/or venous thromboemboli are a major cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with homocystinuria. Untreated patients have a 50% chance of having a vascular event by 30 years of age. Increased homocysteine levels have been reported to upregulate prothrombotic factors and downregulate antithrombotic factors; in particular, increased homocystinuria has been found to downregulate nitric oxide (NO). Mice that are deficient in NO synthase in the cavernosal smooth muscles have a higher incidence of priapism. Decrease in NO synthase causes downregulation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate, phosphodiesterase type 5A, and Rho A/Rho-kinase. Because persistently increased homocysteine also downregulates NO, a similar mechanism could be proposed for priapism secondary to homocystinuria. In patients presenting with priapism, specific features of homocystinuria should be sought; in selected patients, screening with plasma total homocysteine might be appropriate. Ischemic priapism secondary to homocystinuria appears to respond well to the standard treatment options of aspiration, intracavernosal injection with phenylephrine, and, if required, a shunting procedure.

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