Pathologic fibrosis: implications for treatment and research

We suspect that Peyronie's is a genetic disorder, in some cases inherited, that is characterized by hyperactive fibrosis. Although Peyronie's is a disorder of the tunica albuginea of the male penis, it's likely that the hyperactive fibrosis manifests throughout the body (pathologic scarring?).

So what are the clinical implications of this knowledge?

• urologists should be wary of urologic procedures in men who have relatives with Dupuytren's contracture (or Peyronie's, but they won't know of the latter).
• research in other disorders characterized by pathologic hyper-fibrosis may have implications for understanding Peyronie's -- and vice-versa. (I'll be looking to see if there are any such disorders with significant funding. Hmmm. Maybe fibrosis in the intima of cardiac vessels?)
• the best treatment for Peyronie's will probably be a locally applied medication that reduces fibrosis and is administered with very early symptoms in persons with a known predisposition (eg. family history) of the disorder