A comparison of the sperm mixed-agglutination reaction test with the peroxidase-labelled protein A test for detecting antisperm antibodies in infertile men with varicocele.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the sperm mixed-agglutination reaction (sMAR) with the peroxidase-labelled protein A method (POPA) in infertile patients with varicocele.


METHODS
The study comprised 30 men with a history of varicocele-associated infertility and 30 fertile men (control group). Antisperm antibodies against spermatozoa in the semen and against progenitor spermatozoa in testicular tissue were detected using the two methods.


RESULTS
The tests were positive in 15 (50%) of patients with both the sMAR and the POPA methods, while no autoantibodies were detected in the control group. There were no significant differences between the methods. The sensitivity and specificity of both tests was approximately 93%, with no significant difference between them (P>0. 05).


CONCLUSIONS
Both methods may be used for detecting sperm autoantibodies in infertile patients with varicocele.
Isitmangil
G
G
Institute for Experimental Research, Department of Immunology, Istanbul University, Turkey.
Yildirim
S
S
Orhan
I
I
Kadioglu
A
A
Akinci
M
M
D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000379:methods; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009195:Peroxidase; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology*; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A; D014646:Varicocele / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A; D009195:Peroxidase