The ratio between carcinoma antigen-125 levels in the seminal plasma and serum may be a marker for fertilization in intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between tumor marker carcinoma antigen-125 levels in seminal plasma and serum and fertilization rates in an IVF program, using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).


METHODS
A prospective study.


METHODS
IVF Unit, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.


METHODS
Twenty-five infertile patients with severe oligo-terato-asthenospermia syndrome and 25 fertile male donors.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Serum and seminal plasma carcinoma antigen-125 concentrations and fertilization rate per cycle.


RESULTS
In the infertile group, the seminal plasma carcinoma antigen-125 levels ranged from 22.0 to 1,284.0 U/mL (mean level +/- SD, 229.9 +/- 274.2 U/mL). In the normospermic fertile male donors, the seminal plasma carcinoma antigen-125 concentrations ranged from 12.2 to 336.7 U/mL (mean level +/- SD, 110.1 +/- 91.6 U/mL). This difference was statistically significant. The mean +/- SD ratio between the seminal plasma/serum carcinoma antigen-125 levels differed significantly between the infertile group (47.9 +/- 61.3) and the fertile male donors (5.7 +/- 3.5). In the infertile group, the ratio between the seminal plasma/serum carcinoma antigen-125 levels was found to be negatively correlated with the oocyte fertilization rate.


CONCLUSIONS
The ratio between carcinoma antigen-125 levels in the seminal plasma and serum may be an indirect marker for male infertility and fertilization rate in IVF treatment using ICSI.
Geva
E
E
Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Arava
J
J
Lerner-Geva
L
L
Hareuveni
M
M
Lessing
J B
JB
Ballas
S
S
Amit
A
A
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000276:immunology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D018394:CA-125 Antigen