New UM Clinical Trial Will Evaluate Platelet-Rich Plasma for Treating Erectile Dysfunction
A new clinical trial at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine will examine the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for treating erectile dysfunction – one of the first such controlled studies in the United States to start enrolling patients.
Unlike current treatments, which focus on treating symptoms, PRP is a regenerative therapy. Injections of PRP from the individual’s body may offer a potential cure for the underlying disease in some patients.”
The UM clinical trial is designed to test both the safety and effectiveness of PRP injections. It is a double blind, randomized study in which 40 of the 80 participants will receive PRP from their own blood, and 40 will receive a placebo, according to Thomas A. Masterson M.D., a Miller School fellow in reproductive urology and co-investigator in the trial.
“When platelets are activated, they release growth factors that can facilitate regeneration of the blood vessels as well as penis tissue,” said Dr. Masterson. “If PRP proves to be effective, it could be a game changer in treating erectile dysfunction because men no longer need to rely on pills or injections every time.”
Participants with diabetes- or vascular-related erectile dysfunction will be recruited for the trial and followed for six months. However, individuals with underlying nerve or neurological conditions, such as a loss of sensation in the penis, would not be eligible.
To address COVID-19 safety concerns, the University of Miami is taking precautions for clinical trial participants, as well as patients, to receive care in a safe environment. Examination rooms are carefully disinfected, and doctors and nurses wear personal protective equipment such as goggles, gloves, and facemasks. Non-COVID patients are kept in areas separate from COVID-19 patients and anyone with a suspected case of coronavirus is treated in an isolated area.