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. 2021 Jan;39(1):116-122.
doi: 10.5534/wjmh.190095. Epub 2019 Oct 17.

Standard Semen Parameters vs. Sperm Kinematics to Predict Sperm DNA Damage

Artin Aghazarian  1   2 , Wolfgang Huf  3   4 , Heinz Pflüger  1 , Tobias Klatte  5   6
Affiliations

Standard Semen Parameters vs. Sperm Kinematics to Predict Sperm DNA Damage

Artin Aghazarian et al. World J Mens Health. 2021 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: The aims of this study were to associate sperm kinematics and standard semen parameters with sperm DNA damage and to evaluate whether the addition of sperm kinematics improve the multivariable prediction of sperm DNA fragmentation compared to standard semen parameters alone.

Materials and methods: We evaluated sperm kinematics, standard semen parameters, and DNA fragmentation index (DFI) in 122 men. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to evaluate the association of sperm kinematics and standard semen parameters with pathologically damaged sperm DNA (DFI≥26%), and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were calculated for these models.

Results: On univariate analyses, average velocity, curvilinear velocity, straight-line velocity, straightness (STR), beat-cross frequency (BCF), and the percentage of progressive motile sperm cells (PPMS) were significantly associated with pathologically damaged sperm DNA. Likewise, among standard semen parameters, sperm concentration, progressive motility, normal morphology, and vitality were found to be linked with sperm DNA damage. On the multivariate analysis, vitality was the strongest predictor of pathologically damaged sperm DNA with an area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of 88.3%. Adding STR, BCF, and PPMS to vitality increased the AUROC to the significant extent of 91.5%.

Conclusions: Sperm vitality is the most accurate routine-based laboratory test for the prediction of pathologically damaged sperm DNA, but the addition of sperm kinematics increases its accuracy. Both standard semen parameters and sperm kinematics are complementary in predicting pathologically damaged sperm DNA, and might serve as a new tool to screen for fertile men.

Keywords: Computer-assisted semen analysis; Sperm DNA damage; Sperm motility; Standard semen parameters.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve of sperm vitality to predict pathologically damaged sperm DNA. Vitality yields an area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of 88.3% (95% confidence interval, 81.5%–95%), a sensitivity of 77.8%, and a specificity of 84.2%.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve of the multivariate model to predict pathologically damaged sperm DNA, and included straightness (STR), beat-cross frequency (BCF), percentage of progressive motile sperm cells (PPMS), and vitality. The addition of STR, BCF, PPMS to vitality yields an area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of 91.5% (95% confidence interval, 85.7%–97.2%), a sensitivity of 85.2%, and a specificity of 86.3%.
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