Male fertility potential alteration in rheumatic diseases: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Improved targeted therapies for rheumatic diseases were developed recently resulting in a better prognosis for affected patients. Nowadays, patients are living longer and with improved quality of life, including fertility potential. These patients are affected by impaired reproductive function and the causes are often multifactorial related to particularities of each disease. This review highlights how rheumatic diseases and their management affect testicular function and male fertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review of literature of all published data after 1970 was conducted. Data was collected about fertility abnormalities in male patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis, ankylosing spondylitis, Behçet disease and gout. Two independent researchers carried out the search in online databases. RESULTS: A total of 19 articles were included addressing the following diseases: 7 systemic lupus erythematosus, 6 Behçet disease, 4 ankylosing spondylitis, 2 rheumatoid arthritis, 2 dermatomyositis and one gout. Systemic lupus erythematosus clearly affects gonadal function impairing spermatogenesis mainly due to antisperm antibodies and cyclophosphamide therapy. Behçet disease, gout and ankylosing spondylitis patients, including those under anti-TNF therapy in the latter disease, do not seem to have reduced fertility whereas in dermatomyositis, the fertility potential is hampered by disease activity and by alkylating agents. Data regarding rheumatoid arthritis is scarce, gonadal dysfunction observed as consequence of disease activity and antisperm antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced fertility potential is not uncommon. Its frequency and severity vary among the different rheumatic diseases. Permanent infertility is rare and often associated with alkylating agent therapy.

Male fertility potential alteration in rheumatic diseases: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Background Improved targeted therapies for rheumatic diseases were developed recently resulting in a better prognosis for affected patients. Nowadays, patients are living longer and with improved quality of life, including fertility potential. These patients are affected by impaired reproductive function and the causes are often multifactorial related to particularities of each disease. This review highlights how rheumatic diseases and their management affect testicular function and male fertility. Materials and Methods A systematic review of literature of all published data after 1970 was conducted. Data was collected about fertility abnormalities in male patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis, ankylosing spondylitis, Behçet disease and gout. Two independent researchers carried out the search in online databases. Results A total of 19 articles were included addressing the following diseases: 7 systemic lupus erythematosus, 6 Behçet disease, 4 ankylosing spondylitis, 2 rheumatoid arthritis, 2 dermatomyositis and one gout. Systemic lupus erythematosus clearly affects gonadal function impairing spermatogenesis mainly due to antisperm antibodies and cyclophosphamide therapy. Behçet disease, gout and ankylosing spondylitis patients, including those under anti-TNF therapy in the latter disease, do not seem to have reduced fertility whereas in dermatomyositis, the fertility potential is hampered by disease activity and by alkylating agents. Data regarding rheumatoid arthritis is scarce, gonadal dysfunction observed as consequence of disease activity and antisperm antibodies. Conclusions Reduced fertility potential is not uncommon. Its frequency and severity vary among the different rheumatic diseases. Permanent infertility is rare and often associated with alkylating agent therapy.

Surgical management of nonobstructive azoospermia.

Nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) is characterized by the complete absence of sperm in the ejaculate due to testicular failure. The evaluation and management of patients with NOA offer a challenge to the reproductive urologist. In the era of in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection, surgical sperm extraction techniques can afford men with NOA biologic paternity. To provide a comprehensive review of surgical sperm retrieval approaches in the patient with NOA emphasizing complications, success rates and outcome optimization, a Medline search was conducted querying surgical approaches used to manage NOA. Four sperm extraction techniques are described including: testicular sperm aspiration, testicular sperm extraction, fine needle aspiration mapping and microdissection testicular sperm extraction. In addition, the roles for pre-extraction varicocelectomy and sperm cryopreservation are discussed. The management of NOA continues to evolve as newer tools become available. Several modalities of sperm acquisition exist. An understanding of their complications and success rates is fundamental to the treatment of NOA.

Infrared Thermometer: an accurate tool for temperature measurement during renal surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate infrared thermometer (IRT) accuracy compared to standard digital thermometer in measuring kidney temperature during arterial clamping with and without renal cooling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 20 pigs weighting 20Kg underwent selective right renal arterial clamping, 10 with (Group 1 - Cold Ischemia with ice slush) and 10 without renal cooling (Group 2 - Warm Ischemia). Arterial clamping was performed without venous clamping. Renal temperature was serially measured following clamping of the main renal artery with the IRT and a digital contact thermometer (DT): immediate after clamping (T0), after 2 (T2), 5 (T5) and 10 minutes (T10). Temperature values were expressed in mean, standard deviation and range for each thermometer. We used the T student test to compare means and considered p < 0.05 to be statistically significant. RESULTS: In Group 1, mean DT surface temperature decrease was 12.6 ± 4.1°C (5-19°C) while deep DT temperature decrease was 15.8 ± 1.5 °C (15-18 °C). For the IRT, mean temperature decrease was 9.1 ± 3.8 °C (3-14°C). There was no statistically significant difference between thermometers. In Group 2, surface temperature decrease for DT was 2.7 ± 1.8°C (0-4°C) and mean deep temperature decrease was 0.5 ± 1.0 °C (0-3 °C). For IRT, mean temperature decrease was 3.1 ± 1.9°C (0-6°C). No statistically significant difference between thermometers was found at any time point. CONCLUSIONS: IRT proved to be an accurate non-invasive precise device for renal temperature monitoring during kidney surgery. External ice slush cooling confirmed to be fast and effective at cooling the pig model.

Infrared Thermometer: an accurate tool for temperature measurement during renal surgery

Purpose To evaluate infrared thermometer (IRT) accuracy compared to standard digital thermometer in measuring kidney temperature during arterial clamping with and without renal cooling. Materials and Methods 20 pigs weighting 20Kg underwent selective right renal arterial clamping, 10 with (Group 1 - Cold Ischemia with ice slush) and 10 without renal cooling (Group 2 - Warm Ischemia). Arterial clamping was performed without venous clamping. Renal temperature was serially measured following clamping of the main renal artery with the IRT and a digital contact thermometer (DT): immediate after clamping (T0), after 2 (T2), 5 (T5) and 10 minutes (T10). Temperature values were expressed in mean, standard deviation and range for each thermometer. We used the T student test to compare means and considered p < 0.05 to be statistically significant. Results In Group 1, mean DT surface temperature decrease was 12.6 ± 4.1°C (5-19°C) while deep DT temperature decrease was 15.8 ± 1.5°C (15-18°C). For the IRT, mean temperature decrease was 9.1 ± 3.8°C (3-14°C). There was no statistically significant difference between thermometers. In Group 2, surface temperature decrease for DT was 2.7 ± 1.8°C (0-4°C) and mean deep temperature decrease was 0.5 ± 1.0°C (0-3°C). For IRT, mean temperature decrease was 3.1 ± 1.9°C (0-6°C). No statistically significant difference between thermometers was found at any time point. conclusions IRT proved to be an accurate non-invasive precise device for renal temperature monitoring during kidney surgery. External ice slush cooling confirmed to be fast and effective at cooling the pig model. IRT = Infrared thermometer DT = Digital contact thermometer D:S = Distance-to-spot ratio .

Development and initial validation of a scoring system to diagnose testicular torsion in children.

PURPOSE: Testicular torsion is a surgical emergency requiring prompt intervention. Although clinical diagnosis is recommended, scrotal ultrasound is frequently ordered, delaying treatment. We created a scoring system to diagnose testicular torsion, decreasing the indication for ultrasound. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 338 patients with acute scrotum, of whom 51 had testicular torsion. Physical examination was performed by a urologist, and all patients underwent scrotal ultrasound. Univariate analysis and logistic regression were performed, and a scoring system for risk stratification of torsion was created. Retrospective validation was performed with 2 independent data sets. RESULTS: The scoring system consisted of testicular swelling (2 points), hard testicle (2), absent cremasteric reflex (1), nausea/vomiting (1) and high riding testis (1). Cutoffs for low and high risk were 2 and 5 points, respectively. Ultrasound would be indicated only for the intermediate risk group. In the prospective data set 69% of patients had low, 19% intermediate and 11.5% high risk. Negative and positive predictive values were 100% for cutoffs of 2 and 5, respectively (specificity 81%, sensitivity 76%). Retrospective validation in 1 data set showed 66% of patients at low, 16% intermediate and 17% high risk. Negative and positive predictive values for cutoffs of 2 and 5 were 100% (specificity 97%, sensitivity 54%). The second retrospective data set included only torsion cases, none of which was misdiagnosed by the scoring system. CONCLUSIONS: This scoring system can potentially diagnose or rule out testicular torsion in 80% of cases, with high positive and negative predictive values for selected cutoffs. Ultrasound orders would be decreased to 20% of acute scrotum cases. Prospective validation of this scoring system is necessary.