BACKGROUND: The study aim was to clarify the relationship of serum inhibin B concentrations to recovery of spermatogenic function after varicocelectomy, both as a predictor of improvement in the seminogram and as a means of monitoring hormonal function after surgery. METHODS: Fifty-two varicocele patients, including five with normal sperm concentrations, were studied. Changes in the seminogram, serum hormone concentrations and serum inhibin B were evaluated in the 47 oligozoospermic patients after surgery. Preoperative inhibin B concentrations correlated significantly with serum concentrations of FSH (r = 0.598, P < 0.0001) and testosterone (r = 0.380, P < 0.02). Inhibin B concentrations also correlated significantly with sperm concentration (r = 0.351, P < 0.02) and total testicular volume (r = 0.578, P < 0.0001). No significant correlation was seen between inhibin B and the Johnsen score. Preoperative concentrations of inhibin B were higher in patients who increased their sperm concentration after surgery (responders) than in those without improved concentrations (non-responders). No significant difference was observed between pre- and postoperative inhibin B concentrations in responders or non-responders. However, 15 of 25 (60%) patients with increased inhibin B showed improvement of the seminogram, while only five of 22 (23%) patients with no change or a decrease in inhibin B had any improvement (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative serum inhibin B concentration could not reliably predict a response to varicocelectomy. However, a change in serum inhibin B concentration after varicocelectomy might be helpful to evaluate the improvement of testicular function after varicocelectomy.
BACKGROUND: The study aim was to clarify the relationship of serum inhibin B concentrations to recovery of spermatogenic function after varicocelectomy, both as a predictor of improvement in the seminogram and as a means of monitoring hormonal function after surgery. METHODS: Fifty-two varicocele patients, including five with normal sperm concentrations, were studied. Changes in the seminogram, serum hormone concentrations and serum inhibin B were evaluated in the 47 oligozoospermic patients after surgery. Preoperative inhibin B concentrations correlated significantly with serum concentrations of FSH (r = 0.598, P < 0.0001) and testosterone (r = 0.380, P < 0.02). Inhibin B concentrations also correlated significantly with sperm concentration (r = 0.351, P < 0.02) and total testicular volume (r = 0.578, P < 0.0001). No significant correlation was seen between inhibin B and the Johnsen score. Preoperative concentrations of inhibin B were higher in patients who increased their sperm concentration after surgery (responders) than in those without improved concentrations (non-responders). No significant difference was observed between pre- and postoperative inhibin B concentrations in responders or non-responders. However, 15 of 25 (60%) patients with increased inhibin B showed improvement of the seminogram, while only five of 22 (23%) patients with no change or a decrease in inhibin B had any improvement (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative serum inhibin B concentration could not reliably predict a response to varicocelectomy. However, a change in serum inhibin B concentration after varicocelectomy might be helpful to evaluate the improvement of testicular function after varicocelectomy.
Authors: M Zavattaro; C Ceruti; G Motta; S Allasia; L Marinelli; C Di Bisceglie; M P Tagliabue; M Sibona; L Rolle; F Lanfranco Journal: J Endocrinol Invest Date: 2018-10-03 Impact factor: 4.256
Authors: P Cavarzere; M Sulpasso; E Maines; M Vincenzi; R Gaudino; E Monti; C Chironi; L Tatò; F Antoniazzi Journal: J Endocrinol Invest Date: 2011-06-07 Impact factor: 4.256
Authors: Jason P Van Batavia; Elizabeth Lawton; Jennifer R Frazier; Stephen A Zderic; Mark R Zaontz; Aseem R Shukla; Arun K Srinivasan; Dana A Weiss; Christopher J Long; Douglas A Canning; Thomas F Kolon Journal: J Urol Date: 2020-10-07 Impact factor: 7.450