Pathophysiology and Future Therapeutic Perspectives for Resolving Fibrosis in Peyronie’s Disease

Peyronie’s disease (PD) is a debilitating affliction for the male population, causing severe curvatures to the erect penis and erectile dysfunction in about 50% of men. This deviation of the penis significantly impairs sexual intercourse and causes depression and strains in the relationship. As of today, medical treatment options are far and few between, with surgery remaining as the sole reliable treatment. In this review, a general overview regarding fibrosis and the specific role of extracellular matrix, macrophages and myofibroblasts in PD will be given. Additionally, we will provide an overview of past and present research and how this has shaped our vision concerning the pathophysiology of PD. Using this knowledge, we will attempt to provide future directions for PD research and drug discovery, which is urgently needed, since its treatment has essentially been stagnating for about 30 years.