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.
Cervellione
Raimondo Maximilian
RM
Department of Paediatric Urology, Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals, M27 4HA, UK. raimondo.cervellione@cmmc.nhs.uk
Cervato
Giovanna
G
Zampieri
Nicola
N
Corroppolo
Michele
M
Camoglio
Francesco
F
Canoglio
Francesco
F
Cestaro
Benvenuto
B
Ottolenghi
Alberto
A
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