Antibiotic therapy in men with leukocytospermia.
OBJECTIVE
In this prospective study, we aimed to determine the efficacy of doxycycline and doxycycline plus ceftriaxone for the treatment of asymptomatic men with leukocytospermia.


METHODS
Seventy men were included in this randomized and placebo-controlled study. White blood cell (WBC) concentrations were determined by peroxidase assay during the routine semen analysis. Twenty-four of 70 men with leukocytospermia were randomized as control group and administered placebo (group I), 25 received doxycyline alone (group II), and 21, doxycycline plus ceftriaxone (group III). Doxycycline, 100 mg, was given twice a day for ten days and ceftriaxone, 1 g, in two doses for only one day. After the treatment, semen analyses were repeated.


RESULTS
After the treatment there was a significant decrease in WBC counts in groups II and III when compared with group I (P < .05). Both antibiotic regimens were found to be equally effective. However, the time needed for resolution of leukocytospermia (approximately 4 weeks) was similar between the control and treatment groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Although both antibiotic regimens significantly, and equally, improved the white blood cell counts in men with leukocytospermia, they failed to treat the leukocytospermia, i.e., to bring the count below the limit of one million WBC/mL. Therefore, it is doubtful that antibiotic therapy should be recommended for asymptomatic men with leukocytospermia.
Erel
C T
CT
Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turkey.
Sentürk
L M
LM
Demir
F
F
Irez
T
T
Ertüngealp
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D004318:Doxycycline