Risk of connective-tissue disease in men with testicular or penile protheses: a preliminary study

Aim: To help clarifying the possibility of connective-tissue diseases in men with penile or testicular prostheses. Methods: Eight patients underwent inflatable penile prostheses and 15, testicular prostheses consented to the study. Their medical records were reviewed and a follow-up interview and physical and serological examinations were performed. Results: In patients with penile prostheses, there was no abnormal antinuclear antibody (ANA) or IgM elevation. The serum levels of the rheumatoid factor (R-F), C4, IgA and IgG were abnormal in one patient, and the levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C3, abnormal in two. Four had elevated IgE. In patients with testicular prostheses, there was no abnormal RF, ANA or IgM. The serum levels of ESR and IgA were abnormal in two, and three had abnormal C4, ten abnormal C3, and eleven decreased IgG. All had increased IgE. Men with penile prostheses had higher serum levels of IgG and IgM than those with testicular prostheses (P=0.001, P=0.016, respectively). The rates of abnormal values of IgE and IgG were higher in men with testicular prostheses than in men with penile prostheses (P=0.008, P=0.009, respectively). Physical examination was normal in all patients and nobody had documented symptoms pertinent to connective-tissue diseases. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the risk of connective-tissue diseases is not higher in patients wearing prostheses as the ANA is negative and there is no apparent manifestation suggestive of connective-tissue diseases.