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Evaluation of the antisperm antibodies in infertile couples afflicted with a cervical factor
Andrzej Rogoza1, Krzysztof Łukaszuk, Piotr Mielcarek
1II Kliniki Połoznictwa i Ginekologii Instytutu Połoznictwa i Chorób Kobiecych AM w Gdańsku.
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate methods used for antisperm antibodies detection in infertility.
Methods:
The studied cohort comprised 38 infertile couples with a distinct cervical factor. Presence of antisperm antibodies and their levels in circulation were evaluated in sera samples of both partners and also in the cervical mucus and semen with the Latex Agglutination test. Western Blotting was applied as an additional method in antibody detection. We also assessed: the number of sexual partners, potentially allergizing sexual behaviour and other potentially sensitising factors.
Results:
The positive antisperm antibodies were detected merely twice and only in one case there was evidence of insemination-impeding antisperm humoral response. The Western Blotting method enabled us to obtain a reaction to a range of sperm proteins which reacted with antibodies both in serum and in seminal plasma.
Conclusions:
Determination of infertility on immunological grounds on the basis of a single determinant on sperm presents little diagnostic value. In our view, the combination of patient's clinical status with immune-system response to a spectrum of sperm antigens provides means of infertility evaluation. We propose Western Blotting as an useful technique for detection of antisperm antibodies.