Seminal Endoglin in infertile men with varicocele, a cohort study

Abstract

Varicocele is considered a common and correctable cause of male infertility. This is established by the improvement of sperm parameters after surgical correction. Endoglin (Eng) is presented in two forms, a membrane and soluble forms, and the equilibrium between these forms depends on the oxidative status. Eng is linked to several pathological conditions common in varicocele as hypoxia and apoptosis. This study aimed to evaluate the seminal level of soluble Eng in infertile oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (OAT) men associated with varicocele. Sixty men were enrolled in this study. They were divided into two groups: infertile OAT men with varicocele and healthy fertile men as a control group. These participants were subjected to complete history taking, clinical and genital examination, semen analysis, and assessment of soluble Eng pre- and 6 months after the surgical intervention. The results showed a significant elevation of seminal soluble Eng in infertile OAT men associated with varicocele than in fertile control. Six months postsurgical correction, there was a significant improvement in semen parameters accompanied by a significant decrease in the seminal level of soluble Eng. It was concluded that seminal soluble Eng is elevated in infertile OAT men linked to varicocele concurrent with the negative effect on sperm parameters. The surgical correction of varicocele in these cases shows significant improvement in these criteria.