[Use of L-carnitine before percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration-intracytoplasmic sperm injection for obstructive azoospermia].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the use of L-carnitine before percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration-intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PESA-ICSI) in the treatment of obstructive azoospermia.


METHODS
Seventy-nine cases of obstructive azoospermia treated in our center from Sep 2008 to Aug 2009 were divided into an L-carnitine (n = 43) and a control group (n = 36), the former given oral L-carnitine at 1 g bid for 3 months before PESA-ICSI, while the latter left untreated. Comparisons were made between the two groups in the number of retrieved oocytes and fertilized oocytes as well as the number and rate of good embryos.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the two groups in the number of retrieved oocytes and fertilized oocytes. But the number and rate of good embryos were significantly higher in the L-carnitine than in the control group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Three-month oral medication of L-carnitine before PESA-ICSI can raise the number and rate of good embryos in obstructive azoospermia patients and therefore benefit the therapeutic outcome.
Reproductive Medical Center/Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China.
Shao-Ming
SM
Lu
Xiao
X
Li
Hao-Bo
HB
Zhang
Jing-Mei
JM
Hu
Jun-Hao
JH
Yan
Jiao-Long
JL
Liu
Zi-Jiang
ZJ
Chen
D000328:Adult; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000628:therapy*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004822:Epididymis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002331:Carnitine