Cystatin C and Seminal Parameter Evaluation in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the possible relationship between seminal parameters and cystatin C seminal levels in an infertility evaluation of chronic hemodialysis patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study, aged 18-60 years, in a group of 60 men undergoing hemodialysis (case) for more than 6 months, and a group of 15 healthy men (control) without clinical or laboratory signs of genitourinary tract infection. We performed a spermogram, hormonal profile, and assessment of leukocytes and cystatin levels in the semen.

RESULTS

The ages in the case and control were similar (p = 0.060). The seminal cystatin was significantly different between the case group and control group (41.16 ± 26.59 vs. 79.00 ± 05.68 mg/l, respectively, p < 0.001) and between normospermia and oligospermia (83.50 ± 02.40 vs. 30.34 ± 02.52 mg/l, respectively, p < 0.001). The mean seminal cystatin levels identified by the degrees of oligospermia (severe, moderate, and slim) were similar to each other (p > 0.05) and significantly different (p < 0.05) in relation to normospermia in the case group. The seminal cystatin levels positively correlated (p < 0.05) with sperm motility and sperm density.

CONCLUSION

Seminal cystatin levels are associated with the numerical and motility changes evidenced in the spermogram and may be of help in the initial evaluation of clinical suspicion of sub-fertility and infertility.