Abstract
PURPOSE: To identify key predictors for successful sperm retrieval in men with AZFc microdeletion. METHODS: Totally, 71 infertile men with confirmed AZFc microdeletion were studied. For each patient, the endocrine profile including serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone, total testosterone, prolactin, and estradiol was recorded, along with intratesticular testosterone levels (ITT), age, and testicular size. The factors were further analyzed to determine the key predictors for successful sperm retrieval. RESULTS: Of the 71 men with AZFc microdeletion, 52 (73.2%) were classified as having non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), 7 (9.9%) as having cryptozoospermia, and 12 (15.8%) as having severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. Of the 52 men with azoospermia, 47 received microdissection testicular sperm retrieval, and sperm retrieval was successful in 35 of those cases (74.5%). A significantly lower serum FSH (p = 0.03) was found in those patients from whom sperm could be successfully retrieved. The area under the receiving operating characteristic curve for FSH was determined to be 0.721. Using an FSH cutoff point of 12.95 mIU/mL, the model for predicting successful sperm retrieval was found to have 51.4% sensitivity, 83.3% specificity, 90.0% positive predictive value, and 37.0% negative predictive value. ITT levels were obtained from 7 NOA patients, the mean ITT and the mean ITT/serum testosterone ratio was 1932.8 ng/ml and 567.2 in 6 men with successful sperm retrieval, whereas, in a patient with fail sperm retrieval, the levels were 2370 ng/ml and 393.0. CONCLUSION: Men exhibiting AZFc microdeletion with discernible spermatogenesis from whom sperm was successfully retrieved by mTESE generally presented with relatively lower FSH levels.