Alpha-glycosidase activity in seminal plasma: predictive value for outcome in intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization.

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that alpha-glycosidase activity in seminal plasma can predict the outcome of both IUI and IVF.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary fertility center in a university hospital.

PATIENT(S): Eighty-three subfertile couples who underwent IUI and 125 subfertile couples who underwent IVF.

INTERVENTION: None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Determination of the alpha-glycosidase activity in seminal plasma before an IUI or IVF attempt, correlation of alpha-glycosidase activity and other semen parameters, and prediction of pregnancy using alpha-glycosidase activity in seminal plasma.

RESULT(S): Alpha-glycosidase activity correlated with sperm count. In the IUI group, alpha-glycosidase activity of >23.9 mU/mL predicted pregnancy with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 55.2%. In the IVF group, the outcome could not be predicted with use of any of the semen parameters.

CONCLUSION(S): Alpha-glycosidase activity measured in mU/mL probably can be used as a predictor for IVF and pregnancy in an IUI program but has no predictive value with regard to pregnancy rate in an IVF program.