New method of treatment of immune infertility.

A history is presented of a couple suffering from long-standing infertility, which on laboratory investigation was found to be immunologic infertility, as expressed in the male partner. This case of male infertility was diagnosed by findings of sperm antibody in both the serum and the seminal plasma of the man, using both the Kibrick and the F-D sperm agglutination test methods. A new effort at treatment, by means of attempted immunosuppression, was proposed and applied, using corticosteroid medication. The special feature of this treatment involved a high dosage (96 mg. per day of methylprednisolone) for a short period (seven days). Laboratory studies revealed that the antibody levels, in both his serum and seminal plasma, did fall considerably. The wife became pregnant in the subsequent cycle. It is proposed that such diagnostic and treatment efforts be tried in other cases of male immunologic infertility.