[Diagnosis of a toxic liver lesion based on spermiographic changes]

8% of andrological patients are exposed to harmful substances at work. Testicular function can be impaired by mechanical and thermic irritation, but, above all, many chemical substances have a detrimental effect on spermatogenesis. A case is presented of a 23 year-old painter who showed a significant rapid decrease in sperm quality in spite of a course of treatment with mesterolone. The toxic agents were nitro lacquer thinners and resin dispersions, which had caused toxic liver damage, as seen from the raised liver enzyme activities. The elimination of the noxious substances resulted in a normalization of liver enzyme activities and a restitution of fertility.