title: Effects of plasma exchange on sperm antibody levels in males with subfertility.
abstract: Three men with subfertility secondary to sperm antibodies with measurable serum sperm antibody levels underwent a course of 3 plasma exchanges over a period of 1 week. The levels of serum anti-sperm antibodies fell by a mean of 3.3 dilutions. This fall was maintained for approximately 4 weeks, after which there was a return to the original levels. Plasma exchange is time-consuming and relatively expensive but it offers a possible alternative to steroid treatment (with its potential side effects) in men with sperm antibodies and warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Lord
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: MacGregor
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Floyd
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Pusey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies