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Relationship between plasma homocysteine and clinical grading of varicocele

Li-Hong Wang1,2, Lei Zheng1,2, Hui Jiang3

  • 1Department of Andrology and Sexual Medicine, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116023, China.

Asian Journal of Andrology
|April 25, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels correlate with increased varicocele (VC) clinical grading. This finding suggests Hcy may be a valuable biomarker for assessing VC severity and understanding its endothelial cell injury pathogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Urology
  • Andrology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Varicocele (VC) is a common cause of male infertility.
  • Endothelial cell injury is implicated in VC pathogenesis.
  • Plasma homocysteine (Hcy) is a potential factor in vascular endothelial dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels and the clinical grading of varicocele (VC).
  • To explore the role of Hcy in the pathogenesis of endothelial cell injury in VC patients.

Main Methods:

  • A comparative study involving 184 VC patients and 120 controls.
  • Patients were stratified into three groups based on VC clinical grading (Grade I, II, III).
  • Plasma Hcy levels were measured and analyzed using univariate and multivariate regression.

Main Results:

  • Median Hcy levels were significantly higher in VC patients compared to controls (p=0.006).
  • A positive correlation was found between increasing Hcy levels and higher VC clinical grades.
  • Multivariate analysis confirmed Hcy as a significant factor associated with VC grading (p=0.013).

Conclusions:

  • Plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels are significantly associated with the clinical grading of varicocele (VC).
  • Hcy may play a role in the endothelial cell injury contributing to VC.
  • Hcy has potential clinical value in assessing the severity of varicocele.

Keywords:
clinical gradinghomocysteineinflammationoxidative stressvaricocele

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