ALPHA-GLYCOSIDASE ACTIVITY IN SEMINAL PLASMA - PREDICTIVE VALUE FOR OUTCOME IN INTRAUTERINE INSEMINATION AND IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION

Objective: To test the hypothesis that alpha-glycosidase activity in s eminal plasma can predict the outcome of both IUI and NF. Design: A re trospective cohort study. Setting: Tertiary fertility center in a univ ersity hospital. Patient(s): Eighty-three subfertile couples who under went IUI and 125 subfertile couples who underwent IVF. Intervention: N one. Main Outcome Measure(s): Determination of the alpha-glycosidase a ctivity in seminal plasma before an IUI or IVF attempt, correlation of alpha-glycosidase activity and other semen parameters, and prediction of pregnancy using alpha-glycosidase activity in seminal plasma. Resu lt(s): alpha-Glycosidase activity correlated with sperm count. In the IUI group, alpha-glycosidase activity of >23.9 mU/mL predicted pregnan cy with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 55.2%. In the IVF g roup, the outcome could not be predicted with use of any of the semen parameters. Conclusion(s): alpha-Glycosidase activity measured in mU/m L probably can be used as a predictor for IVF and pregnancy in an IUI program but has no predictive value with regard to pregnancy rate in a n IVF program. (C) 1998 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine. ).