Altered serum inhibin b levels in adolescents with varicocele.
OBJECTIVE
Different studies have evaluated testicular hormonal dysfunction in adolescent varicocele but with variable results. Recently, inhibin B has been proposed as a marker for spermatogenesis and Sertoli cell function. The aim of the present study was to study in a homogeneous cohort of adolescents inhibin B and other hormones to detect whether untreated varicocele may be associated with any modifications of these factors.


METHODS
Sixteen adolescents (mean age, 14.5 +/- 1.0 years), at Tanner stages 4 to 5 with grade II or III left-sided varicocele, underwent hormonal evaluation of inhibin B, basal testosterone, and both baseline and GnRH stimulated FSH and LH levels. Thirteen unaffected adolescents of age-matched and pubertal development were used as controls.


RESULTS
Patients with varicocele showed a significant reduction in the testicular volume of the affected side (13.3 +/- 4.1 vs 15.8 +/- 4.8 mL; P = .002) and significant reduced levels of inhibin B compared with controls (271.9 +/- 70.2 vs 327.1 +/- 34.9 pg/mL; P = .042). Inhibin B levels were significantly correlated with testes volume (r = 0.62; P = .0097). Other hormonal parameters were similar in both varicocele and control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Inhibin B is reduced in adolescents with untreated varicocele, and it is positively correlated with testicular volume. This could be an early marker for Sertoli cell damage, with possible implications for spermatogenesis and could represent a new indication for varicocele repair.
Romeo
Carmelo
C
Department of Medical and Surgical Pediatric Sciences, Unit of Pediatric Surgery, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy. romeoc@unime.it
Arrigo
Teresa
T
Impellizzeri
Pietro
P
Manganaro
Agatino
A
Antonuccio
Pietro
P
Di Pasquale
Giuseppe
G
Messina
Maria Francesca
MF
Marseglia
Lucia
L
Formica
Isabella
I
Zuccarello
Biagio
B
D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014646:Varicocele / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*
D015415:Biomarkers; C422364:inhibin B; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone