[Alpha-glycosidase helps the diagnosis of epididymal obstructive azoospermia].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the diagnostic value of alpha-glycosidase for epididymal lump induced obstructive azoospermia.

METHODS

Seventy-six infertile men with normal spermatogenic function were divided according to sperm density into a normal density group (n = 27), an oligospermia group (n = 21) and an obstructive azoospermia group (n = 28), and another 30 fertile males were included as normal controls. Semen plasma alpha-glycosidase, leucocyte count, sexual hormone levels and the diameters of the epididymal lumps were measured and their correlations were analyzed.

RESULTS

alpha-Glycosidase in the obstructive azoospermia group was significantly lower than that of the other groups (P <0.05), and negatively correlated with epididymal volume (r = -0.417, P <0.05) and leucocyte count (r = -0.342, P <0.05).

CONCLUSION

Alpha-Glycosidase has been proved of diagnostic value for epididymal obstructive azoospermia.