title: Treatment of oligoasthenozoospermia with tranilast, a mast cell blocker, after long-term administration.
abstract: The authors retrospectively examined whether long-term administration of tranilast improves semen parameters in severe oligoasthenozoospermia. Fifty-two patients presenting with sperm concentration of less than 10 x 10(6) sperm/mL were enrolled. Subjects were partitioned into 3 groups as follows: patients displaying an atrophic testis with elevated (FSH) (group 1), patients exhibiting normal testicular volume with elevated FSH (group 2), and patients with normal testicular volume and normal FSH levels (group 3). Tranilast (300mg/day) was administered until pregnancy was achieved or for a period of up to 12 months. Sperm concentration was significantly increased at 3 months in 16 subjects (44%) in groups 1 and 3. In group 2, sperm concentration was increased at 12 months (5 of 16 subjects; 31%). Total sperm count was obviously elevated at 3 months in groups 1 and 2, and at 6 months in group 3. Six pregnancies were achieved via natural intercourse. Tranilast, a mast cell blocker, demonstrates a certain clinical benefit in terms of improvement of semen parameters involving severe oligoasthenozoospermia, but it does not appear to afford clinical benefit in long-term administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan. hibih@quartz.ocn.ne.jp
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hibi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitsui
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fukatsu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013076:Sperm Count; D062367:ortho-Aminobenzoates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D062367:ortho-Aminobenzoates; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; C012293:tranilast