title: [Alpha-glycosidase helps the diagnosis of epididymal obstructive azoospermia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the diagnostic value of alpha-glycosidase for epididymal lump induced obstructive azoospermia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six infertile men with normal spermatogenic function were divided according to sperm density into a normal density group (n = 27), an oligospermia group (n = 21) and an obstructive azoospermia group (n = 28), and another 30 fertile males were included as normal controls. Semen plasma alpha-glycosidase, leucocyte count, sexual hormone levels and the diameters of the epididymal lumps were measured and their correlations were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  alpha-Glycosidase in the obstructive azoospermia group was significantly lower than that of the other groups (P <0.05), and negatively correlated with epididymal volume (r = -0.417, P <0.05) and leucocyte count (r = -0.342, P <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alpha-Glycosidase has been proved of diagnostic value for epididymal obstructive azoospermia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wu-zhou
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Wei-xing
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Pei-qiang
authors.initials: PQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhi-yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004822:Epididymis; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000520:alpha-Glucosidases