• PMID: 12886394
• Gene Name: FSH
• Condition: Azoospermia
• Association: Associated
• Population size: 60
• Population details: 60 azoospermic patients
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Associated genes: FSH
• Other associated phenotypes: Azoospermia

[Follicle stimulating hormone as predictor of mobile spermatozoa in testicular biopsy of azoospermic patients]

de Souza CA, Cunha Filho JS, Santos D, Gratão AA, Filippon L, Tedesco C, Freitas F, Passos EP.

OBJECTIVE: To define predictive factors of mobile spermatozoa recovery in azoospermic patients. METHODS: Testicular volume, serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL) and testosterone levels were assessed in 60 azoospermic patients. Patients underwent bilateral testicular biopsy with local anesthesia. Samples were classified according to absence of spermatozoa, presence of motile and nonmotile spermatozoa, and histological findings. Age, hormone levels, testicular volume and histology with motile spermatozoa recovery were compared. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Non-obstructive azoospermia was diagnosed in 45 patients. Significant differences were detected between the group with motile spermatozoa recovery and the group with absence of spermatozoa in terms of FSH levels (P=0.037 ANOVA one-way). A ROC curve was used to define FSH values below 16.05 IU/L (sensitivity: 76.2%, specificity: 67.7%) as predictive factors for motile spermatozoa recovery. Other statistical differences were not detected. CONCLUSIONS: FSH levels below 16.05 IU/L showed good accuracy to predict the presence of motile spermatozoa in the testicular biopsy of azoospermic patients. Physical examination, testosterone levels, LH and prolactin were not useful as predictive factors in the present study. FAU - de Souza, Carlos Augusto Bastos AU - de Souza CA AD - Setor de Reprodução Assistida / Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. casouza@via-rs.net FAU - Cunha Filho, João Sabino AU - Cunha Filho JS FAU - Santos, Débora AU - Santos D FAU - Gratão, Ana Angélica AU - Gratão AA FAU - Filippon, Lauren AU - Filippon L FAU - Tedesco, Cristiana AU - Tedesco C FAU - Freitas, Fernando AU - Freitas F