Ischaemic Priapism in a Sickle Cell disease patient triggered by Leviteracetam.

Abstract

Introduction: Priapism is defined as penile erection that continues more than 4 hours beyond sexual satisfaction and orgasm or is unrelated to sexual stimulation. It describes a persistent penile erection arising from dysfunction of the mechanisms regulating penile tumescence, rigidity and flaccidity. Patient: A 30 year old sickle cell disease male patient with multiple episodes of ischaemic priapism. He also presented with seizure disorder which developed post cerebro-vascular accident (CVA) and for which he was placed on an anticonvulsant – leviteracetam. Onset of priapism coincided with the commencement of the anticonvulsant. Intervention: Withdrawal of the anticonvulsant resulted in ceasation of episodes of priapism. Conclusion: Sickle cell disease is a common cause of priapism in our environment. However, there are more subtle causes which could be masked by the more common ones, requiring thorough scrutiny to decipher.