Smoking Augments the Detrimental Effect of Varicocele in Infertile Patients through Increased Level
Journal of Pan-Arab League of Dermatologists
Vol. 20, No. 1, February 2009 Page 89- 96
Smoking Augments the Detrimental Effect of Varicocele in InfertilePatients through Increased Level of Nitric Oxide in Spermatic Vein Blood
El-Tonsy H*, Abdel-Raof H*, Hossam El-Din W*, El-Fakahany H*, Gabr M**, Othman A*** and Medhat W*
Departments of Dermatology, STD’s & Andrology*, Clinical Pathology** and Radiology***, Al-Minya University
Hospital, Al-Minya, Egypt
Abstract
Background: a causal relationship betweencigarette smoking and impaired reproductivefunction is highly suspected becausesmokersinhale a host of toxins such as nicotine, carbonmonoxide, cadmium, and other mutagenic compounds.
Objective: toinvestigate the relationship betweencigarette smoking and impaired reproductivefunction. We have therefore comparednitricoxide (NO) concentration in the spermaticveins blood of smokers and non-smokers in bothfertile and sub-fertile men withvaricocele.Design: a prospective clinical study.
Patients & Methods: group I sub-fertile patientswith varicocele (n = 30) therewere 13non-smoker patients and 17 smoker patients,group II fertile patients with varicocele (n = 11)there were 5 non-mokers and 6 smokers. Wholeblood samples were withdrawn from a dilatedspermatic vein before ligation. NO productionwas established by determination of serum concentrationof nitrite (NO-2) by using griess reagentsystem and ELISA.
Results: There was significant positive correlationbetween smoking index and the increase ofNO2 levels in spermatic veins in group I,r =(0.398), P = (0.03). Group II there showed nocorrelation, r = (0.291), P = (0.385).
Conclusions: sub-fertile men withvaricocelewho smoke cigarettes have higher levels ofspermatic vein blood nitric oxide than subfertilenonsmokers withvaricocele. Given thepotential adverse effects of spermatic vein nitricoxide on fertility, physicians should advise subfertilemenwho smoke cigarettes to quit.
Journal of Pan-Arab League of Dermatologists
Vol. 20, No. 1, February 2009 Page 89- 96
Smoking Augments the Detrimental Effect of Varicocele in InfertilePatients through Increased Level of Nitric Oxide in Spermatic Vein Blood
El-Tonsy H*, Abdel-Raof H*, Hossam El-Din W*, El-Fakahany H*, Gabr M**, Othman A*** and Medhat W*
Departments of Dermatology, STD’s & Andrology*, Clinical Pathology** and Radiology***, Al-Minya University
Hospital, Al-Minya, Egypt
Abstract
Background: a causal relationship betweencigarette smoking and impaired reproductivefunction is highly suspected becausesmokersinhale a host of toxins such as nicotine, carbonmonoxide, cadmium, and other mutagenic compounds.
Objective: toinvestigate the relationship betweencigarette smoking and impaired reproductivefunction. We have therefore comparednitricoxide (NO) concentration in the spermaticveins blood of smokers and non-smokers in bothfertile and sub-fertile men withvaricocele.Design: a prospective clinical study.
Patients & Methods: group I sub-fertile patientswith varicocele (n = 30) therewere 13non-smoker patients and 17 smoker patients,group II fertile patients with varicocele (n = 11)there were 5 non-mokers and 6 smokers. Wholeblood samples were withdrawn from a dilatedspermatic vein before ligation. NO productionwas established by determination of serum concentrationof nitrite (NO-2) by using griess reagentsystem and ELISA.
Results: There was significant positive correlationbetween smoking index and the increase ofNO2 levels in spermatic veins in group I,r =(0.398), P = (0.03). Group II there showed nocorrelation, r = (0.291), P = (0.385).
Conclusions: sub-fertile men withvaricocelewho smoke cigarettes have higher levels ofspermatic vein blood nitric oxide than subfertilenonsmokers withvaricocele. Given thepotential adverse effects of spermatic vein nitricoxide on fertility, physicians should advise subfertilemenwho smoke cigarettes to quit.