New discoveries in the basic science understanding of Peyronie's disease.

Peyronie's disease is an acquired benign condition representing localized fibrosis of the penis. The disease is caused by microvascular trauma to the penis, with subsequent fibrin deposition resulting in aberrant wound healing and possibly other etiologies. Histopathologic studies of the Peyronie's plaque have demonstrated the role of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in the pathologic development of penile plaque. Animal models have been developed to test pathophysiology and therapeutics. The role of inducible nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide has been established to limit and counteract fibrosis. Differential gene expression studies have identified candidate up-regulated or down-regulated genes that are involved in the pathophysiology of Peyronie's disease.