CLINICAL AND ANAMNESTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF DEVELOPMENT OF ANTISPERM IMMUNITY IN INFERTILE MEN

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Immunology
• Andrology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Antisperm antibodies (ASAs) are implicated in male infertility.
• The specific etiological factors contributing to ASA development require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between infertility duration, patient age, and various pathologies with antisperm antibody (ASA) pathogenesis.
• To identify specific infections and conditions that significantly influence ASA levels.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 496 outpatient records.
• Inclusion criteria: infertility ≥18 months, high ASA concentration in blood and sperm.
• Evaluation of anamnestic data and clinico-laboratory test results.

Main Results:

• No significant correlation found between ASAs and general illnesses, profession, family history, autoimmune diseases, or extragenital pathologies.
• Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Mycoplasma hominis significantly increased ASA levels in blood and ejaculate (p<0.001).
• Orchitis and epididymitis showed a statistically insignificant increase in ASAs, but play a role in antisperm immunity development.

Conclusions:

• Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, orchitis, and epididymitis contribute to ASA development.
• These conditions likely cause blood-testicular barrier dysfunction, leading to spermatogenic epithelium damage and autoimmune infertility.