Causes of Peyronie's disease

Cause of Peyronie's disease: Many researchers believe the plaque of Peyronie's disease develops following trauma (hitting or bending) that causes localized bleeding inside the penis. ¹

Cause details for Peyronie's disease: Many researchers believe the plaque of Peyronie's disease develops following trauma (hitting or bending) that causes localized bleeding inside the penis. Two chambers known as the corpora cavernosa run the length of the penis. The inner-surface membrane of the chambers is a sheath of elastic fibers. A connecting tissue, called a septum, runs along the center of each chamber and attaches at the top and bottom.

If the penis is abnormally bumped or bent, an area where the septum attaches to the elastic fibers may stretch beyond a limit, injuring the lining of the erectile chamber and, for example, rupturing small blood vessels. As a result of aging, diminished elasticity near the point of attachment of the septum might increase the chances of injury.

The damaged area might heal slowly or abnormally for two reasons: repeated trauma and a minimal amount of blood flow in the sheath-like fibers. In cases that heal within about a year, the plaque does not advance beyond an initial inflammatory phase. In cases that persist for years, the plaque undergoes fibrosis, or formation of tough fibrous tissue, and even calcification, or formation of calcium deposits.

While trauma might explain acute cases of Peyronie's disease, it does not explain why most cases develop slowly and with no apparent traumatic event. It also does not explain why some cases disappear quickly, and why similar conditions such as Dupuytren's contracture do not seem to result from severe trauma.

Some researchers theorize that Peyronie's disease may be an autoimmune disorder. ¹

Underlying condition causes of Peyronie's disease: The list of possible underlying conditions (see also Misdiagnosis of underlying causes of Peyronie's disease) mentioned in various sources as possible causes of Peyronie's disease includes:

Penile injury
Penile bleeding

Related information for causes of Peyronie's disease: Further relevant information on causes of Peyronie's disease may be found in the risk factors for Peyronie's disease and underlying causes of Peyronie's disease.

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Peyronie's Disease: NIDDK

Last revision: June 10, 2003

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