[(Quality of semen in patients with Crohn's disease) ]

Some reports point to an inhibitory effect of Salzosulfapyridin (SASP) in spermatogenesis. It is not clear whether inflammatory bowel disease itself is influencing the maturation of spermatozoa and whether the activity of the disease is reflected by changes in sperm development. 27 patients with Crohn's disease were studied. 6 were without treatment, 10 received SASP, 11 had both, SASP and methylprednisolone. The sperm analysis was not different between untreated and SASP treated patients. Sperm density was equal in both groups while number of mobile and mature sperms was slightly but not significantly decreased. Sperm quality was on the lower limit of normal. In contrast, all patients with the combined treatment of SASP and methylprednisolone had pathological findings in sperm density, morphology and motility. Crohn's activity index of the latter group was significantly higher than of the patients without or with SASP treatment. It is concluded that pathological sperm analysis of patients with Crohn's disease are not necessarily the consequence of SASP treatment. It seems likely that the disease itself plays a role in the spermatogenesis and that derangements in sperm quality increase with severity of the disease.