title: Altered serum inhibin b levels in adolescents with varicocele.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Pediatric Sciences, Unit of Pediatric Surgery, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy. romeoc@unime.it
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arrigo
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Impellizzeri
authors.forename: Agatino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manganaro
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Antonuccio
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Pasquale
authors.forename: Maria Francesca
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marseglia
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Formica
authors.forename: Biagio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zuccarello
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C422364:inhibin B; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone