Serum inhibin B levels before and after varicocelectomy in early adolescence

• Published in: Journal of endocrinological investigation 2011-10, Vol.34 (9), p.e265-e267
• Main Authors: Cavarzere, P., Sulpasso, M., Maines, E., Vincenzi, M., Gaudino, R., Monti, E., Chironi, C., Tatò, L., Antoniazzi, F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Child; Endocrinology; Humans; Inhibins - blood; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Original Articles; Testis - anatomy & histology; Testis - diagnostic imaging; Testis - physiology; Testis - surgery; Ultrasonography; Varicocele - surgery
• ISSN: 0391-4097; 1720-8386
• DOI: 10.3275/7796

Background : Whereas no clear relationship has been observed between varicocelectomy and serum inhibin B levels in men, in adolescents comparison between inhibin B levels before and after varicocelectomy is lacking. Aim : To evaluate the effect of varicocele surgical treatment on inhibin B levels in adolescents at the beginning of puberty compared to a group of healthy adolescents. Subjects and methods : We studied 28 adolescents in Tanner 2 pubertal stage with a grade III left-sided varicocele (patients) compared to 13 age- and pubertal stage-matched healthy adolescents (controls). All patients underwent blood tests to determine serum inhibin B levels before and 6 months after varicocelectomy by Palomo procedure. For comparison we investigated inhibin B levels in controls and repeated this test 6 months later. Testicular ultrasound was performed for patients only. Results : Baseline inhibin B concentrations of patients and controls were 109.90±40.26 and 109.33±38.34 pg/ml, respectively. No significant changes were observed in patients’ inhibin B concentrations after varicocelectomy (116.00±42.65 pg/ml), or in controls during the 6 months’ follow-up (99.12±30.09 pg/ml). Doppler examination after treatment shows a complete resolution of varicocele in all the patients without alterations in testicular parenchyma. Conclusions : Varicocelectomy performed on adolescents at T2 pubertal stage might be useful to avoid alteration in inhibin B production and consequently in testicular function. Further studies are necessary to confirm the prognostic value of inhibin B levels and the benefit of early varicocelectomy in preserving the fertility of these adolescents.