Semen characteristics in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)- and hepatitis C (HCV)-seropositive males: predictors of the success of viral removal after sperm washing.
BACKGROUND
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-seropositive males can now father children safely, avoiding transmission risks to the mother and the children using sperm washing and nested PCR (nPCR) techniques. Nevertheless, we still lack enough data to determine the reasons why approximately 10% of the performed sperm washes remain positive, thus forcing the repetition of the treatment. Semen quality in infected males is also essential to these procedures. We aimed to determine the predictive value of the semen parameters, sperm washing procedure and the infection status for the post-wash viral positivity, as well as the correlation between the semen and the disease features.


METHODS
Semen characteristics were evaluated in 136 samples provided from 125 males. We also included a control group of 125 males matched by age and length of sexual abstinence. At the time of semen retrieval, 70 of them were infected with HIV (45 also with HCV, 64.3%), and 55 of them with HCV alone. nPCR for viral detection was performed in each sample.


RESULTS
Thirteen out of 136 (9.5%) of the samples were positive for one or more viral detections (HIV RNA, HIV DNA and HCV RNA, when needed). From a total of 240 nPCR viral analyses, 16 were positive (6.6%). None of the seminal parameters were adequate to predict post-wash results, nor was a positive result dependent on the volumes used in the semen wash. A positive correlation was found between post-wash progressive motility and CD4 blood levels, as well as a negative correlation between progressive motility and time of evolution of the disease in HIV-infected males.


CONCLUSIONS
Semen analysis, according to the World Health Organization criteria, of HIV- and HCV-affected patients showed no differences from that of non-infected males. Moreover, low CD4 blood levels, and a long evolution of the disease do not negatively affect sperm motility.
Garrido
Nicolás
N
IVI Valencia, Valencia University School of Medicine, Valencia, Spain. nicolas. garrido@ivi.es
Meseguer
Marcos
M
Remohí
José
J
Simón
Carlos
C
Pellicer
Antonio
A
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology*; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology*
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral