title: Correlation of leukocytospermia with clinical infection and the positive effect of antiinflammatory treatment on semen quality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the correlation between leukocytospermia, bacteriospermia, and clinical signs of infection and to evaluate antiinflammatory therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective nonrandomized study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Andrologic clinic at university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 56 patients were evaluated, and 12 of them received further treatment with a Cox-2 inhibitor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen analysis and clinical investigation were done according to World Health Organization guidelines. Serum levels of leukocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were measured from blood samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sperm concentration, leukocyte concentration, serum leukocyte count, CRP, PSA, bacterial growth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Leukocytospermia (>1 x 10(6)/mL) was present in 60.7% of the semen samples, significant pathogenic bacterial growth was detectable in 35.7%, and 14.3% of the samples fulfilled the criteria for ejaculate signs of infection. All serum parameters were within the normal range. In abacterial leukocytospermia, treatment with a Cox-2 inhibitor decreased leukocytospermia from 5.5 x 10(6)/mL to 1.0 x 10(6)/mL (P=.001) and increased sperm concentration from 22.5 x 10(6)/mL to 48.0 x 10(6)/mL (P=.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no evidence of an immune response in the peripheral blood system. In abacterial leukocytospermia, treatment with a Cox-2 inhibitor seems to be able to reduce leukocytospermia and increase sperm count.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. jakob.lackner@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Jakob E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lackner
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herwig
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmidbauer
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schatzl
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kratzik
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marberger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors