Antisperm antibody binding to human acrosin: a study of patients with unexplained infertility.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Antisperm antibody binding to acrosin was investigated by Western Blotting. The clinical significance of this binding specificity was assessed in a 2-year clinical follow-up.

DESIGN:

Consecutive serum samples positive for antisperm antibodies by both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunobead testing were evaluated for acrosin-binding specificity.

SETTING:

The patients were followed in an outpatient setting by private infertility specialists.

PATIENTS:

Sixty-five consecutive infertile referral patients with positive antisperm antibody were evaluated. Clinical follow-up was obtained on 8 of 9 females with evidence of antibody binding to acrosin and 19 of 26 females with no specific binding to acrosin.

INTERVENTIONS:

Prednisone therapy was given during six courses of intrauterine insemination with husband's sperm. All treatment decisions were made by private physicians independent of the acrosin-binding result.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Pregnancy status was obtained as part of a 2-year follow-up.

RESULTS:

Acrosin-binding specificity was demonstrated in 10 (15%) of the 65 patients. Two of the 8 women (25%) with antibody binding to acrosin and 6 of the 19 women (32%) with antisperm antibodies but no specific binding to acrosin delivered normal children.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although antibody-binding specificity to acrosin could be demonstrated, a 2-year clinical follow-up showed no difference in pregnancy rates when compared with women with antisperm antibodies showing no binding specificity to acrosin.

• Authors: S E Howe, S L Grider, D M Lynch, L M Fink
• Journal: Fertility and sterility (Fertil Steril) Vol. 55 Issue 6 Pg. 1176-82 (Jun 1991) ISSN: 0015-0282 [Print] United States
• PMID: 2037111 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Acrosin
• Prednisone

Topics

• Acrosin (immunology)
• Adult
• Autoantibodies (immunology)
• Blotting, Western
• Chromatography, Gel
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Infertility, Female (immunology)
• Insemination, Artificial, Homologous
• Male
• Prednisone (therapeutic use)
• Pregnancy
• Spermatozoa (immunology)