Significance of inhibin B and anti-Müllerian hormone in seminal plasma: a preliminary study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of seminal inhibin B and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) on the outcome of testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Reproductive biology department.

Patient(s): Forty-seven normospermic, 28 oligozoospermic, and 68 azoospermic patients.

Intervention(s): Testicular sperm extraction.

Main outcome measure(s): Seminal inhibin B and AMH measure.

Result(s): The seminal values of inhibin B and AMH are widely dispersed. Both inhibin B and AMH seminal values are significantly different between the three groups. The average rates of seminal AMH (not inhibin B) differ significantly according to the etiology of the azoospermia. Both seminal markers are correlated. A significant positive correlation could be observed between the seminal inhibin B and the sperm count, but not for AMH. A significant correlation also exists between seminal and serum inhibin B. The predictive value for TESE outcome of each parameter is rather low. Conversely, a logistic regression combining serum FSH, seminal inhibin B, and AMH produced a satisfying area under the curve of 0.985.

Conclusion(s): Seminal inhibin B and AMH values are proposed. Separately, seminal markers are poor predictors of TESE outcome. A logistic regression model led to a satisfying area under the curve of 0.985.