Antisperm antibody binding to human acrosin: a study of patients with unexplained infertility.
OBJECTIVE
Antisperm antibody binding to acrosin was investigated by Western Blotting. The clinical significance of this binding specificity was assessed in a 2-year clinical follow-up.


METHODS
Consecutive serum samples positive for antisperm antibodies by both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunobead testing were evaluated for acrosin-binding specificity.


METHODS
The patients were followed in an outpatient setting by private infertility specialists.


METHODS
Sixty-five consecutive infertile referral patients with positive antisperm antibody were evaluated. Clinical follow-up was obtained on 8 of 9 females with evidence of antibody binding to acrosin and 19 of 26 females with no specific binding to acrosin.


METHODS
Prednisone therapy was given during six courses of intrauterine insemination with husband's sperm. All treatment decisions were made by private physicians independent of the acrosin-binding result.


METHODS
Pregnancy status was obtained as part of a 2-year follow-up.


RESULTS
Acrosin-binding specificity was demonstrated in 10 (15%) of the 65 patients. Two of the 8 women (25%) with antibody binding to acrosin and 6 of the 19 women (32%) with antisperm antibodies but no specific binding to acrosin delivered normal children.


CONCLUSIONS
Although antibody-binding specificity to acrosin could be demonstrated, a 2-year clinical follow-up showed no difference in pregnancy rates when compared with women with antisperm antibodies showing no binding specificity to acrosin.
Howe
S E
SE
Department of Pathology, Rose Medical Center, Denver, Colorado 80220.
Grider
S L
SL
Lynch
D M
DM
Fink
L M
LM
D000176:Acrosin / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000276:immunology*; D007317:Insemination, Artificial, Homologous; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D000176:Acrosin; D011241:Prednisone