title: Semen quality in HIV patients under stable antiretroviral therapy is impaired compared to WHO 2010 reference values and on sperm proteome level.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate semen quality in HIV patients under stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) compared with WHO 2010 reference values and on the sperm proteome level.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2011 and 2013, we prospectively enrolled 116 HIV-positive men without hepatitis B or C co-infections from our outpatient department for infectious diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients received a comprehensive andrological work-up. Complete semen analysis was performed according to WHO 2010 recommendations, with each semen variable of the study population being compared with the WHO reference group (n~2000). Correlation analysis was done to investigate the influence of HIV surrogate parameters on semen quality. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and subsequent protein identification was performed to determine any differences in the sperm protein composition of the 15 HIV-positive patients and that of 15 age-matched healthy men.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median values of all assessed semen parameters were within a normal range. However, for each semen variable, about 25% of patients had values below the fifth percentile of the WHO 2010 reference group. Disease-related parameters (CD4þ cell count, viral load, CDC stage, duration of disease, duration of ART, number and type of antiretroviral drugs) were not significantly correlated with any sperm parameter. Sperm proteome analysis identified 14 downregulated proteins associated with sperm motility and fertility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study that compares all standard semen parameters in HIV positive patients under ART to WHO 2010 reference values. It provides evidence of impaired conventional semen parameters and altered sperm protein composition. Finally, HIV surrogate parameters are not suitable for predicting semen quality.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pilatz
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Discher
authors.forename: Guenter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lochnit
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Hans-Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Schuppe
authors.forename: Christian G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Schüttler
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weidner
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lohmeyer
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Diemer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods*; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020543:Proteome / Q000032:analysis*; D012016:Reference Values; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry*; D014944:World Health Organization; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D020543:Proteome