Dexamethasone therapy of infertile men with sperm autoantibodies: immunological and sperm follow-up.
A group of 14 infertile men with significant titres of anti-sperm antibodies in their sera and seminal plasma were treated with dexamethasone acetate at 2 of 3 mg/day for s13 or 9 weeks respectively. Response to the treatment was evaluated by the evolution of seminal and circulating anti-sperm antibodies and semen characteristics. An overall decline in the anti-sperm antibodies was observed. Serum spermotoxicity and seminal agglutinins decreased below detectable levels in 67 and 58% of the men respectively. The decrease in both kinds of antibodies was closely correlated. Serum sperm agglutination titres fell slightly (2 to 3 log2 dilutions) in most cases. The disappearance of antibodies from the semen was accompanied by decreased autoagglutination and increased percentages of progressively motile spermatozoa. In two oligozoospermic men a striking increase in the sperm count was observed. Pregnancies occurred in three couples at times when serum spermotoxic and seminal agglutinating antibodies were undetectable and semen characteristics were normal.
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013073:Sperm Agglutination / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D003907:Dexamethasone; C018038:dexamethasone acetate