title: The influence of antisperm antibodies, intratesticular haemodynamics and the surgical approach to varicocelectomy on seminal variables.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of antisperm antibodies (ASAs), hormonal levels, intratesticular haemodynamics and the surgical approach on the outcomes of varicocelectomy in infertile men, as assessed by seminal variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective case-series study, 82 infertile men with varicocele (35 left and 47 bilateral) were evaluated. The preoperative assessment included a physical examination, semen analysis, assessment of ASAs in seminal plasma, hormonal levels (follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone and testosterone), and scrotal colour Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) to measure the peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index. Patients were scheduled for varicocelectomy, with high ligation (Palomo) used in 40 patients (18, 45%, with left and 22, 55%, with bilateral varicocele), or an inguinal approach (Ivanissivich) with loupe magnification used in 42 (17, 40%, with left and 25, 60%, with bilateral varicocele). The men were reassessed at ⩾3 months after surgery and according to the improvement in seminal variables (expressed as a ⩾50% increase in total motile sperm count, TMSC), patients were further categorised into 'improved' or 'unimproved'. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the predictors of improvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before surgery the ASAs were positive in 17 men (21%). There was no significant difference between the right and left sides in intratesticular haemodynamics. The TMSC was improved in 52 (63%) patients who had a significant improvement in the haemodynamic variables. Intratesticular haemodynamics, serum FSH and testosterone levels differed significantly between the improved and unimproved patients. Positivity for ASAs, the surgical approach and laterality of the varicocele were not significantly different, although the ASA-positive cases were characterised by a significant decrease in motility. Logistic regression analysis showed that the EDV, PSV, FSH, testosterone level and bilateral testicular volume (BTV) were significant predictors of improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positivity for ASAs is not a predictor of the outcome after varicocelectomy but affects only the motile fraction in positive cases, despite the improvement in other seminal variables and testicular haemodynamics, and regardless of the surgical approach. The EDV, PSV, FSH, testosterone and BTV were significant predictors of a successful outcome.
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Benha Faculty of Medicine, Benha, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Al-Adl
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Benha Faculty of Medicine, Benha, Egypt.
authors.forename: Tarek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: El-Karamany
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology Department, Benha Faculty of Medicine, Benha, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hesham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Issa
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Benha Faculty of Medicine, Benha, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaazaa
keywords: ASAs, anti-sperm antibodies; Antisperm antibodies; BTB, blood–testis barrier; BTV, bilateral testicular volume; CDUS, colour Doppler ultrasonography; EDV, end diastolic velocity; Intratesticular haemodynamics; LH, luteinising hormone; PI, pulsatility index; PSV, peak systolic velocity; RI, resistive index; Spermatogenesis; TMSC, total motile sperm count; Varicocele