CREATINE-KINASE ACTIVITY IN HUMAN SPERMATOZOA AND SEMINAL PLASMA LACKS PREDICTIVE VALUE FOR MALE-FERTILITY IN IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION

Objective: To examine the predictive value of creatine kinase in human spermatozoa and seminal plasma from patients treated in an IVF progra m. Design: Prospective, blind clinical study. Setting: Male infertilit y clinic. Patient(s): Seventy-three patients and 32 fathers (age, <45 years). Intervention(s): Determination of creatine kinase activity in seminal plasma, washed spermatozoa, and swim-up purified spermatozoa f rom patients treated in an NF program. Main Outcome Measure(s): Creati ne kinase activity in seminal plasma, washed spermatozoa, and swim-up purified spermatozoa. Result(s): Creatine kinase activity in washed sp ermatozoa correlated significantly with normal sperm morphology. No si gnificant correlations were found between creatine kinase activity or creatine kinase isoenzyme ratio in seminal plasma, washed spermatozoa, or swim-up purified spermatozoa and success in the IVF program. The p ercentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology was significantly lowe r in patients whose sperm did not fertilize than in patients whose spe rm did fertilize oocytes and in the control group of proven fathers. C onclusion(s): Total creatine kinase activity and creatine kinase isoen zyme distribution are not sperm function markers for prediction of mal e fertility in IVF treatment. (C) 1998 by American Society for Reprodu ctive Medicine.).