title: Assessment of anti-sperm antibodies in couples after testicular sperm extraction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Testicular spermatozoa can be retrieved successfully by the testicular sperm extraction (TESE) procedure and used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Disruption in the blood-testis barrier can lead to the production of antisperm antibodies (ASA). The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the frequency of ASA formation in couples after TESE procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven couples were included in the study at the Urology Clinic of the Dr. Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Training and Research Hospital. History, physical examination, spermiogram, and endocrine profiles were obtained for all male patients. All the male patients in this study had been diagnosed with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) and underwent microdissection TESE. Secondary and tertiary cases were also included in the study. Serum samples were obtained from all 74 patients before TESE, and at three and 12 months after TESE. Serum ASA levels were determined. ANOVA was performed for statistical analysis for serum Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), testosterone and testicular volume. P < 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in the testicular volumes, serum FSH and testosterone levels before and after TESE. None of the patients or their partners developed significant levels of ASA as a result of the TESE procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TESE procedure does not cause ASA production in either males or their female partners.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Ankara Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Department of Urology, Ankara, Turkey. ufukozturk71@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ufuk
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dede
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sagnak
authors.forename: H N Goksel
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Goktug
authors.forename: Oguz A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Gurbuz
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cagatay
authors.forename: M Abdurrahim
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: İmamoglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053625:Sperm Retrieval / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D013739:Testosterone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone