[Predictive factors associated with successful varicocele repair a study of 139 infertile men with valicocele].
OBJECTIVE
To determine pretreatment parameters which predict improvements following varicocele repaire in semen quality.


METHODS
We retrospectively evaluated a total of 139 infertile patients who underwent varicocelectomy from February 1995 to March 2000. A logistic regression analysis was performed to identify parameters associated with improvements in semen quality. Parameters evaluated included varicocele grade, age, testicular volume, serum testosterone, liteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), preoperative sperm density and sperm motility.


RESULTS
Of 139 patients 71 (51.0%) improved sperm concentration and 59 (42.4%) improved sperm motility postoperatively. Overall, median sperm density significantly increased from 10 x 10(6)/ml preoperatively to 30 x 10(6)/ml postoperatively. Sperm motility also significantly increased 33% to 45%. In logistic regression analysis, varicocele grade (odds ratio [OR] = 5.7; 95% confidential interval [CI : 1.9-17), FSH level ([OR] = 0.76; [CI]: 0.60-0.96) and sperm motility ([OR] = 1.03; [CI]: 1.0-1.1) were independent predictive factors for improvement in sperm concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
Varicocelectomy improves sperm concentration and motility. Our data suggest that patients with grade 3 varicocele, low serum FSH level and high sperm motility are more likely to benefit from varicocele repair in sperm concentration.
Kiuchi
Hiroshi
H
Department of Urology, Osaka Central Hospital.
Koga
Minoru
M
Hirai
Toshiaki
T
Namba
Yukiomi
Y
Takeyama
Masami
M
Nishimura
Kenji
K
Tsujimura
Akira
A
Matsumiya
Kiyomi
K
Okuyama
Akihiko
A
D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D014646:Varicocele / Q000601:surgery*