[Follicle stimulating hormone as predictor of mobile spermatozoa in testicular biopsy of azoospermic patients].
OBJECTIVE
To define predictive factors of mobile spermatozoa recovery in azoospermic patients.


METHODS
Testicular volume, serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL) and testosterone levels were assessed in 60 azoospermic patients. Patients underwent bilateral testicular biopsy with local anesthesia. Samples were classified according to absence of spermatozoa, presence of motile and nonmotile spermatozoa, and histological findings. Age, hormone levels, testicular volume and histology with motile spermatozoa recovery were compared. P < 0.05 was considered significant.


RESULTS
Non-obstructive azoospermia was diagnosed in 45 patients. Significant differences were detected between the group with motile spermatozoa recovery and the group with absence of spermatozoa in terms of FSH levels (P=0.037 ANOVA one-way). A ROC curve was used to define FSH values below 16.05 IU/L (sensitivity: 76.2%, specificity: 67.7%) as predictive factors for motile spermatozoa recovery. Other statistical differences were not detected.


CONCLUSIONS
FSH levels below 16.05 IU/L showed good accuracy to predict the presence of motile spermatozoa in the testicular biopsy of azoospermic patients. Physical examination, testosterone levels, LH and prolactin were not useful as predictive factors in the present study.
de Souza
Carlos Augusto Bastos
CA
Setor de Reprodução Assistida / Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. casouza@via-rs.net
Cunha Filho
João Sabino
JS
Santos
Débora
D
Gratão
Ana Angélica
AA
Filippon
Lauren
L
Tedesco
Cristiana
C
Freitas
Fernando
F
Passos
Eduardo Pandolfi
EP
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone