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Seminal plasma inhibin‐B level is a useful predictor of the success of conventional testicular sperm extraction in patients with non‐obstructive azoospermia
Author(s) -
Nagata Yuko,
Fujita Kazuyuki,
Banzai Junichi,
Kojima Yumi,
Kasima Katsunori,
Suzuki Mina,
Tanaka Kenichi
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1447-0756
pISSN - 1341-8076
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0756.2005.00306.x
Subject(s) - testicular sperm extraction , obstructive azoospermia , azoospermia , medicine , andrology , receiver operating characteristic , sperm , follicle stimulating hormone , gynecology , urology , endocrinology , hormone , luteinizing hormone , infertility , pregnancy , biology , genetics
Aim: The value of serum inhibin‐B as a predictor of the presence of testicular spermatozoa is still controversial. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the predictive value of the seminal plasma inhibin‐B level, which might more directly reflect the secretion by Sertoli cells, and to discriminate between successful and failed testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in non‐obstructive azoospermia. Methods: Sixty‐two patients with non‐obstructive azoospermia were examined at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Niigata University Hospital, Niigata, Japan. The level of inhibin‐B was measured using a two‐site enzyme‐linked immunoassay. Results: Testicular sperm were successfully retrieved in 17 of 62 patients (27.4%). The serum levels of follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) were significantly lower and the serum and seminal inhibin‐B concentrations were significantly higher in the successful TESE group compared with the failed TESE group. According to the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis, the best discriminating seminal plasma inhibin‐B level was 27.0 pg/mL (sensitivity 88.2%, specificity 93.3%). The best discriminating serum inhibin‐B level was 34.0 pg/mL (sensitivity 70.6%, specificity 95.6%). The area under the ROC curve for seminal plasma inhibin‐B was significantly larger than that for FSH and testicular volume. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, only seminal plasma inhibin‐B was an independent predictor of the presence of spermatozoa on TESE. Conclusion: Seminal plasma inhibin‐B level is a useful predictor of the presence of testicular sperm in men with non‐obstructive azoospermia.