Effect of varicocelectomy on the plasma oxidative stress parameters.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluates the long-term effect of varicocelectomy as measured by plasma oxidative stress parameters.


METHODS
Eleven children aged 10 to 16 years presented with left-sided varicocele and ipsilateral testicular hypoplasia. Peripheral blood samples for C-reactive protein, basal thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and plasma peroxidation susceptibility (lag time and slope) were obtained preoperatively and at 1 year after the varicocelectomy. All patients underwent inguinal microvascular varicocelectomy with testicular-inferior epigastric (spermatic-epigastric) venous shunt, and a blood sample from the pampinous plexus was taken. Student's t test for unpaired and paired data was used with a level of significance set at P < .05.


RESULTS
When compared with controls, the cohort preoperative basal TBARS (mean, 2.07 nmol/mL; SD, 0.56 nmol/mL) were higher (P = .009), and plasma peroxidation susceptibility lag time (mean, 132.92 minutes; SD, 32.8 minutes) was lower (P = .0002). Blood samples from the pampiniform plexus showed similar results. Peroxidative plasma levels were significantly reduced on peripheral venous specimens taken 1 year after varicocelectomy with mean (SD) TBARS of 1.53 (0.41) nmol/mL (P = .0003) and mean (SD) lag time of 183.7 (17.46) minutes (P = .0025). The slope did not show significant changes compared with controls, or before and after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Peroxidative plasma levels were significantly reduced 1 year after surgery, indicating that surgical varicocelectomy with construction of venous shunt reduces oxidative stress.
Department of Paediatric Urology, Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals, M27 4HA, UK. raimondo.cervellione@cmmc.nhs.uk
Raimondo Maximilian
RM
Cervellione
Giovanna
G
Cervato
Nicola
N
Zampieri
Michele
M
Corroppolo
Francesco
F
Camoglio
Francesco
F
Canoglio
Benvenuto
B
Cestaro
Alberto
A
Ottolenghi
D000293:Adolescent; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors; D014646:Varicocele / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery*
D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D002097:C-Reactive Protein