Study summary · research use only
Melanotan-induced priapism: a hard-earned tan
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
This case report describes a human patient who developed acute priapism after subcutaneous abdominal injection of melanotan, a melanocortin analogue used illegally for tanning that has also been studied as a possible agent for erectile dysfunction. The priapism was classified as 'low-flow' and was managed with cavernosal aspiration, irrigation, and intracavernosal phenylephrine injection; the patient avoided surgical shunting but had not regained erectile function at 4-week follow-up. The authors describe acute priapism as a previously unreported side effect of melanocortin analogue use and note that future study of these agents would need to account for this potential complication.
Abstract
Melanocortin analogues, such as melanotan, are illegally used for artificial tanning. They have also been suggested as possible therapeutic agents in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. This case study presents a patient attending the accident and emergency department, in a tertiary urology centre, with acute priapism after abdominal subcutaneous injection of melanotan. The priapism was diagnosed as 'low-flow' and managed with cavernosal aspiration, irrigation and subsequent intracavernosal injection of phenylephrine. The patient avoided requiring surgical shunting but had not yet recovered erectile function at 4-week follow-up. Acute priapism is an unreported side effect of melanocortin analogue use and this case report presents a patient managed without surgical intervention. Future therapeutic application of these agents will need to take this potential life altering complication into consideration.
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