[Hyperuricemia reduces semen parameters in infertile men].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the impact of hyperuricemia (HUA) on semen quality in infertile men.

METHODS

Based on the level of fasting serum uric acid (SUA ≥420 μmol/L), 402 infertile men were divided into a normal SUA group (n = 304) and an HUA group (n = 98), and also into four age groups: 20－24, 25－29, 30－34, and 35－44 years old. Semen parameters were obtained from the patients by computer-assisted semen analysis and the levels of SUA determined by chemical colorimetry.

RESULTS

The mean semen volume was significantly lower in the HUA than in the normal SUA group (2.40 vs 2.80 ml, P < 0.05), and so was the total sperm count (120.51 vs 187.21 ×106, P < 0.05). The mean semen volume was remarkably lower in the 25－29 and 30－34 years old patients with HUA than in those with normal SUA (2.40 and 2.55 ml vs 2.85 and 2.90 ml, P < 0.05), and so was the total sperm count in the 30－34 years old patients with HUA than in those with normal SUA (109.69 vs 192.91 ×106, P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the level of SUA was negatively correlated with the semen volume (r = －0.193, P < 0.05) and total sperm count of the patients (r = －0.163, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Hyperuricemia significantly reduces the semen volume and total sperm count of infertile men, and the level of serum uric acid is closely related with semen quality.