Granulocyte elastase indicates silent male genital tract inflammation and appropriate anti-inflammatory treatment

Diagnosis of male genital inflammations plays a significant role in andrology. Although genital infections are often silent, they can severely impair male fertility. In the seminal plasma of 305 patients, immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, complement factor C3C, coeruloplasmin and the number of peroxidase-positive cells were determined in addition to conventional semen parameters and microbiological investigations. A leukocyte esterase dipstick test was also carried out. All these parameters were correlated with the granulocyte elastase determined by an enzyme immunoassay. A highly significant correlation between elastase concentrations and the other parameters indicating inflammation was observed. After anti-inflammatory treatment, elastase concentrations decreased markedly. The results showed that exact quantification of granulocyte elastase is a very specific and sensitive method to distinguish inflammatory from non-inflammatory male adnexal affections, which is appropriate for control of anti-inflammatory treatment and facilitates the diagnosis of inflammatory processes in andrology.