Open AccessAntisperm antibodies in infertile men and their correlation with seminal parameters
Author(s) -
GARCIA PATRICIA C.,
RUBIO ELIANA M.,
PEREIRA ODUVALDO C.M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
reproductive medicine and biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.005
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 1447-0578
pISSN - 1445-5781
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0578.2007.00162.x
Subject(s) - semen , infertility , medicine , incidence (geometry) , semen analysis , male infertility , fertility , reproductive medicine , gynecology , unexplained infertility , sperm , antibody , male fertility , andrology , physiology , immunology , biology , pregnancy , population , genetics , physics , environmental health , optics
Aim: Antisperm antibodies (ASA) in males cause the autoimmune disease ‘immune infertility’. The present study intended to detect the presence of ASA and their incidence in men with unexplained infertility, as well as to evaluate the correlation between the presence of ASA and semen parameter alterations. Methods: Blood and sperm assessment were collected to carry out a direct and indirect mixed antiglobulin reaction (MAR) test and semen analysis in infertile and fertile men from the University Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine, Sao Paulo State University, Sao Paulo. Results: In the MAR test, 18.18% of infertile men were positive for ASA. In fertile men, no positivity was found. A significant correlation between the presence of ASA with an increased white blood cell count plus a decreased hypoosmotic swelling test result was observed. Conclusions: The results indicate that ASA are involved in reduced fertility. It is not ASA detection per se that provides conclusive information about the occurrence of damage to fertility. The correlation between infertility and altered seminal parameters reinforce the ASA participation in this pathology. (Reprod Med Biol 2007; 6 : 33–38)