Serum antisperm antibodies in men with vas deferens obstruction caused by childhood inguinal herniorrhaphy.

OBJECTIVE

To study the incidence of serum antisperm antibodies in patients with vas deferens obstruction caused by childhood inguinal herniorrhaphy.

DESIGN

Retrospective.

SETTING

Kansai Medical University and Kyoto University Hospital.

PATIENTS

Thirteen patients with vas deferens obstruction caused by childhood inguinal herniorrhaphy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Indirect immunobead test for serum antisperm antibodies.

RESULTS

Of 13 patients, 7 (54%) and 2 (15%) tested positive for immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgA class antisperm antibodies, respectively; all patients tested negative for IgM class antibodies. The incidence of antisperm antibodies was not different between the patients with possible epididymal obstruction and those without epididymal obstruction.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant percentage of patients with vasal obstruction caused by infant inguinal herniorrhaphy have serum antisperm antibodies despite the absence of sperm granulomas.