[Concentration of seminal plasma and serum inhibin B: a predictor in the diagnosis of azoospermia].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the concentrations of seminal plasma and serum inhibin B in the differential diagnosis of obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia.


METHODS
We included 37 infertile men with obstructive azoospermia, another 33 with non-obstructive azoospermia and 25 normal fertile men as controls, and measured the concentrations of their FSH serum, seminal plasma and serum inhibin B, using Testicular Histology Johnson Score for the azoospermia infertile men.


RESULTS
The concentration ratio of seminal plasma to serum inhibin B was 2.17 in the control and 3.63 in the non-obstructive azoospermia group, with no significant difference (P = 0.29) in between, but obviously lower in the obstructive azoospermia group (0.18), significantly different from the above two (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The concentration ratio of seminal plasma to serum inhibin B can be used as a predictor in the diagnosis of obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia.
Zhang
Wei-Xing
WX
Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China. huzi918@hotmail.com
Wang
Rui
R
Li
Pei-Qiang
PQ
D000328:Adult; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D007265:Inhibins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology
D015415:Biomarkers; C422364:inhibin B; D007265:Inhibins