Serum inhibin B may be a reliable marker of the presence of testicular spermatozoa in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the predictive value of serum inhibin B levels as an indicator of the presence of testicular spermatozoa in nonobstructive azoospermia, compared with the traditional serum FSH marker.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Private high-complexity reproductive center with university affiliation.


METHODS
Seventy-eight patients with nonobstructive azoospermia, 15 patients with obstructive azoospermia, and 10 fertile volunteers.


METHODS
Blood samples, testicular sperm extraction, percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration, and semen collection.


METHODS
Serum levels of inhibin B and FSH and presence of spermatozoa on TESE, PESA, or regular semen analysis.


RESULTS
Patients with nonobstructive azoospermia has significantly higher levels of serum FSH and significantly lower levels of inhibin B. Mean inhibin B serum levels were significantly higher in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia who had spermatozoa on TESE than in those in whom no spermatozoa were found (89.31 +/- 73.24 pg/mL vs. 19.23 +/- 22.34 pg/mL), but mean FSH serum levels did not have similar predictive power (21.37 +/- 12.92 IU/mL vs. 19.27 +/- 10.28 IU/mL). The cut-off level of inhibin B separating both groups, as determined by the receiver-operating characteristic curves, was >53 pg/mL.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum inhibin B level seems to be more accurate than serum FSH level in prediction of the presence of testicular spermatozoa in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia.
Brugo-Olmedo
S
S
Center for Studies in Gynecology and Reproduction, Buenos Aires, Argentina. sbo@cegyr.com
De Vincentiis
S
S
Calamera
J C
JC
Urrutia
F
F
Nodar
F
F
Acosta
A A
AA
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012662:Semen Preservation; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery
D015415:Biomarkers; C422364:inhibin B; D007265:Inhibins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone