Enhancement of soluble CD23 levels in the seminal plasma of infertile men with idiopathic testicular lesion

Since increased levels of soluble CD23 (sCD23) were demonstrated in patient s with autoimmune diseases, seminal plasma sCD23 levels were examined in 11 0 men divided into seven groups according to etiological diagnosis of infer tility and two groups on the basis bf normal or abnormal spermiogram. sCD23 was absent in the seminal plasma of normal men: According to the ANOVA res ults, all measurements were significantly different between the groups of p atients examined (p < .01). Specifically, patients with idiopathic testicul ar lesion have a significantly higher mean value of sCD23 than all other pa tients. A statistically significant difference was rioted in the sCD23 leve ls between men with normal and those with abnormal spermiograms, although w ith wide overlapping of the individual values. Men with idiopathic testicul ar lesion may be immunologically more active than other groups with subfert ility.