Circulating sperm-agglutinating antibodies in azoospermic men with congenital bilateral absence of the vasa deferentia.
Congenital bilateral absence of the vasa deferentia has been found to be the cause for azoospermia in 101 patients who have been examined in our urologic practice since 1956. This represents approximately 2% of the 5112 patients seen during that time because of problems relating to infertility. Of these 101 men, 29 have had their sera tested for the presence of circulating sperm-agglutinating antibodies. The Shulman15 modification of the macroscopic gelatin sperm-agglutination test of Kibrick et al6 was used. None of these patients had had testicular biopsy. Significantly high titers (1:32 or greater) of antibodies were found in 18 (62.1%) men, low titers (1:16 or less) in five (17.2%), and no antibodies in six (20.7%).
D000373:Agglutinins / Q000032:analysis*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology*; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000002:abnormalities*
D000373:Agglutinins