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[Immunology and deterioration of seminal parameters in varicocele]
E A Solis1, V N Gatti, A S Brufman
1Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Argentina.
Objective:
To investigate the occurrence of antisperm antibodies (ASAs) and their correlation to semen parameters in varicocele patients.
Methods:
Semen samples from 137 patients with unilateral palpable clinical varicocele aged 15-35 years who consulted at the Infertility and Urology services of the Provincial del Centenario and Eva Peron teaching hospitals in Rosario (Argentina) were collected and analyzed according to the WHO standardized protocols and ASAs were tested with TAC II. Statistical analyses were performed using log linear models.
Results:
Motility was impaired in 67.2% (p < 0.001) and morphology in 97.1%. Sperm concentration decreased in 19.7%, although it was not statistically different from that of the normal population. Of the infertile population with varicocele, 46.7% had positive ASAs with TAC II.
Conclusions:
We found a statistically significant correlation only between motility and sperm count (p < 0.01). Our study indicates that the severe dysspermia observed may be caused by autoimmune processes that trigger cellular and humoral mechanisms.