Antisperm antibodies in varicocele related infertility

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the possible role of antisperm antibodies in varicocele associated infertility, antispermatozoal antibodies in serum and seminal plasma of 20 infertile men with varicocele, 20 infertile patients without palpable varicocele and 12 normal fertile husbands, were studied using radiolabeled antiglobulin test. The study showed that 17 patients [85%] of varicocele group demonstrated antispermatozoal antibodies in their seminal plasma compared to only 3 patients [15%] of the nonvaricocele infertile group. As regards serum, 16 patients [80%] of varicocele group showed antispermatozoal antibodies compared with 5 patients [25%] of nonvaricocele infertile group. Asthenozoospermia and oligozoospermia were more prevalent in the varicocele patients. These data suggest that an immunological factor may play a role in varicocele associated infertility