title: [Varicocelectomy for infertility is more effective in cases of sperm count less than 5 million/ml. Apropos of 70 cases].
abstract: 70 patients, out of a total of 664 infertile subjects with a varicocele, presenting a sperm count of less than 5 X 10(6)/ml, were operated and followed for a mean period of 8 months. 80% of the 70 varicoceles were voluminous, compared with 23% in the general population. There was a statistically significant difference between the presence of a large varicocele and the presence of testicular hypotrophy or a sperm count of less than 5 X 10(6)/ml. Histological examination of 80 testes revealed a defect of maturation in 36% of cases (T2), corresponding to reversible histological lesions. The histological lesions predominantly involved the tube (66%) followed by the basement membrane (52%) and the interstitium (42%). The difference between the pre- and post-operative sperm counts was statistically significant (p less than 0.001). We obtained a 36% paternity rate after a mean post-operative delay of 8 months. The authors consider that the larger the varicocele, the more severe the histological lesions (maturation defect = T2). These cases have a very good chance of post-operative improvement as a result of restoration of spermatogenesis. This improvement is more marked when the lesions of the basement membrane and interstitial lesions are less severe. This concept of a "large pathogenic varicocele" which responds well to surgical cure raises doubts about the concept of sub-clinical pathogenic reflux detected by Doppler examination or by phlebography resulting, far too often at the present time, in an embolisation procedure.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D013076:Sperm Count; D014646:Varicocele / Q000601:surgery*
vernacular_title: Varicocélectomie pour infertilité est plus efficace dans les cas de numération inférieure à cinq millions/ml. A propos de soixante-dix cas.