ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the diagnostic value of alpha-glycosidase for epididymal lump induced obstructive azoospermia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-six infertile men with normal spermatogenic function were divided according to sperm density into a normal density group (n = 27), an oligospermia group (n = 21) and an obstructive azoospermia group (n = 28), and another 30 fertile males were included as normal controls. Semen plasma alpha-glycosidase, leucocyte count, sexual hormone levels and the diameters of the epididymal lumps were measured and their correlations were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>alpha-Glycosidase in the obstructive azoospermia group was significantly lower than that of the other groups (P <0.05), and negatively correlated with epididymal volume (r = -0.417, P <0.05) and leucocyte count (r = -0.342, P <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Alpha-Glycosidase has been proved of diagnostic value for epididymal obstructive azoospermia.</p>