Aplicación clínica de la estandarización para la morfología espermática automatizada humana tipo ASMA (assisted sperm morphometry analysis) con el analizador de semen SCA 5.4 (Sperm Class Analyzer, Microptic)

Introduction

Use is made of computer-assisted sperm morphometry analysis (ASMA) in order to analyse sub-populations as a function of several pathologies.

Material and methods

A total of 703 patients were classified into 7 pathology groups, and their sperm sub-populations were analysed. Pathology groups were classified into infertility, male factor stress (anxiety, insomnia and/or depression), diabetes mellitus type 1 or 2, varicocele, urogenital infections, oncological patients, and other endocrine diseases. Morphological analysis was performed using the semen analyser system SCA 5.4 (Sperm Class Analyzer) (Microptic S.L., Barcelona, Spain). Pre-treatment and staining method used has been previously described by this group.

Results

Automatic human sperm morphology showed that the study of sperm sub-populations has a clinical usefulness in the diagnosis of varicocele. Higher values of 30% elongated sperms had a sensitivity of 37% and a specificity of 79% (1.54 odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval from 1.05 to 2.26). Furthermore, groups of infertility, stress, and diabetes showed new sperm sub-populations which had not been described previously, so they could become a new diagnostic tool.

Discussion

The coefficients of variation of sperm morphology were decreased using automation, enabling the study sperm subpopulations in different pathologies. There is a diagnostic usefulness for varicocele. There could be a prediction to choose the best assisted reproductive technique for infertility patients. However, for the rest of groups new sperm subpopulations could be identified that could make it a diagnostic tool, but requires a higher casuistry to conclude the study.