-
European Urology Mar 2019The benefits and harms of intervention (surgical or radiological) versus observation in children and adolescents with varicocele are controversial. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Treatment of Varicocele in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis from the European Association of Urology/European Society for Paediatric Urology Guidelines Panel.
CONTEXT
The benefits and harms of intervention (surgical or radiological) versus observation in children and adolescents with varicocele are controversial.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically evaluate the evidence regarding the short- and long-term outcomes of varicocele treatment in children and adolescents.
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION
A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. A priori protocol was registered to PROSPERO (CRD42018084871), and a literature search was performed for all relevant publications published from January 1980 until June 2017. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), nonrandomized comparative studies (NRSs), and single-arm case series including a minimum of 50 participants were eligible for inclusion.
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS
Of 1550 articles identified, 98 articles including 16 130 patients (7-21 yr old) were eligible for inclusion (12 RCTs, 47 NRSs, and 39 case series). Varicocele treatment improved testicular volume (mean difference 1.52ml, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73-2.31) and increased total sperm concentration (mean difference 25.54, 95% CI 12.84-38.25) when compared with observation. Open surgery and laparoscopy may have similar treatment success. A significant decrease in hydrocele formation was observed in lymphatic sparing versus non-lymphatic sparing surgery (p=0.02). Our findings are limited by the heterogeneity of the published data, and a lack of long-term outcomes demonstrating sperm parameters and paternity rates.
CONCLUSIONS
Moderate evidence exists on the benefits of varicocele treatment in children and adolescents in terms of testicular volume and sperm concentration. Current evidence does not demonstrate superiority of any of the surgical/interventional techniques regarding treatment success. Long-term outcomes including paternity and fertility still remain unknown.
PATIENT SUMMARY
In this paper, we review benefits and harms of varicocele treatment in children and adolescents. We found moderate evidence that varicocele treatment results in improvement of testicular volume and sperm concentration. Lymphatic sparing surgery decreases hydrocele formation. Paternity and fertility outcomes are not clear.
Topics: Adolescent; Age of Onset; Child; Embolization, Therapeutic; Evidence-Based Medicine; Fertility; Humans; Laparoscopy; Male; Risk Factors; Sperm Count; Spermatic Cord; Treatment Outcome; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male; Varicocele; Young Adult
PubMed: 30316583
DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2018.09.042 -
Andrologia Oct 2018Varicocele is one of the common correctable causes of male infertility. Recent studies have demonstrated varicocelectomy in males with abnormal semen parameters was... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Varicocele is one of the common correctable causes of male infertility. Recent studies have demonstrated varicocelectomy in males with abnormal semen parameters was associated with better fertility outcome, but the effect of adjuvant drug therapy after varicocelectomy on fertility outcome in patients with varicocele-associated infertility remains undefined. Hence, the present meta-analysis was performed to assess the efficacy of adjuvant drug therapy after varicocelectomy. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (No. CRD42018093749). Ten randomised controlled trails containing 533 patients with adjuvant drug therapy after varicocelectomy and 368 patients with no medical treatment after varicocelectomy were included. Our analysis revealed that the improvement in pregnancy rate after adjuvant drug therapy was insignificant. (OR = 1.70, 95%CI = 0.99-2.91), but resulted in significant improvements in sperm concentration (MD = 13.71, 95%CI = 5.80-21.63) and motility (MD = 4.77, 95%CI = 3.98-5.56) at 3 months, sperm DNA integrity (SMD = 3.13, 95%CI = 1.50-4.75) and serum FSH level (MD = -1.02, 95%CI = -1.79 to -0.24). Therefore, compared to no medical treatment, the adjuvant drug therapy, especially the use of antioxidants seems to be associated with better fertility outcome. However, more evidences with high-quality studies are necessary to conform its benefits.
Topics: Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility; Treatment Outcome; Urological Agents; Varicocele; Vascular Surgical Procedures
PubMed: 29993131
DOI: 10.1111/and.13070 -
The Indian Journal of Surgery Jun 2018Varicocelectomy can improve the function of testicular Leydig cell for patients with varicocele. We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess effect of...
Varicocelectomy can improve the function of testicular Leydig cell for patients with varicocele. We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess effect of varicocelectomy on serum FSH and LH levels for patients with varicocele. A literature review was performed to identify all published randomized preoperation-postoperation clinical trials of assessing serum FSH and LH levels before and after varicocelectomy. The search included the following databases: PUBMED and EMBASE. The reference lists of retrieved studies were also investigated. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. Five studies were selected from 149 studies, including 312 patients. The meta-analysis showed that serum FSH level (95% confidence interval 0.19-0.77, = 0.001) and serum LH level (95% confidence interval 0.25-0.91, = 0.0005) were higher preoperation than postoperation. Serum FSH level decreased by 0.48 ng/dL after varicocelectomy. The mean decrease of the serum FSH was from 0.1 to 4.8 ng/dL. And serum LH decreased by 0.58 ng/dL. The mean decrease of the serum LH was from 0.2 to 2.1 ng/dL. This meta-analysis proves that varicocelectomy perhaps can decrease serum FSH and LH levels in patients with varicocele. And it might be related to the improvement of the function of Leydig cell. But it remains to need a large-scale multicenter randomized controlled study to be further confirmed.
PubMed: 29973753
DOI: 10.1007/s12262-016-1571-1 -
Current Urology Reports May 2018Current guidelines recommend against surgical repair of subclinical varicoceles (SCVs) for infertility; several studies demonstrate mixed fertility results after SCV... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Current guidelines recommend against surgical repair of subclinical varicoceles (SCVs) for infertility; several studies demonstrate mixed fertility results after SCV correction. To determine whether surgical correction of SCV improves semen parameters and/or reproductive outcomes, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis. Seven biomedical literature databases were searched through January 2018 for studies that assessed reproductive outcomes and/or change in semen parameters in men with corrected SCV compared to either (1) uncorrected SCV or (2) corrected clinical varicocele. Estimates were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis.
RECENT FINDINGS
Data were extracted from 13 studies involving 1357 men. Overall, the risk of bias for included studies was high and without a consistent SCV definition across studies. Surgical correction of SCV was associated with a minor increase in sperm density and total motile sperm count (TMSC) compared to uncorrected SCV. This increase in semen parameters is not clinically significant, as men prior to varicocelectomy were on average normospermic nor was correction of a SCV associated with an increase in pregnancy rates when compared to men with uncorrected SCV. Comparing corrected SCV to corrected clinical varicocele, SCV correction resulted in a smaller increase in TMSC but no difference in average annual pregnancy rate. The risk of bias within and heterogeneity between studies assessing SCV correction are high, yet overall very little clinical benefit is derived from SCV correction.
Topics: Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Semen; Sperm Count; Varicocele
PubMed: 29774482
DOI: 10.1007/s11934-018-0798-8 -
Arab Journal of Urology Mar 2018Despite being first described two thousand years ago, the varicocele remains a controversial multifaceted disease process with numerous biological consequences including... (Review)
Review
Despite being first described two thousand years ago, the varicocele remains a controversial multifaceted disease process with numerous biological consequences including infertility, hypogonadism, and chronic orchidalgia. The underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood and likely include hypoxia, oxidative stress, hyperthermia, anatomical aberrations, and genetics as primary components. Despite a high prevalence amongst asymptomatic fertile men, varicoceles paradoxically also represent the most common correctable cause for male infertility. In this systematic review we discuss the rich historical aspects of the varicocele and the contemporary data regarding its clinical manifestations. We performed a systematic literature review with the goal of comparing outcomes and complication rates of each of the major surgical approaches as they relate to infertility and pain. We performed a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA)-compliant systematic literature review for manuscripts focused on varicocele and its biological consequences. We identified 112 studies suitable for qualitative analysis and included 56 of these for quantitative analysis, with an emphasis on infertility and chronic pain outcomes. Taken together, the clinical work to date suggests that the highest fertility rates and the lowest complication rates are associated with the microsurgical subinguinal surgical approach to varicocelectomy. In all, 26-40% of patients undergoing varicocelectomy will successfully achieve short-term spontaneous pregnancy, and up to 90% of all patients undergoing varicocelectomy for pain will have improvement and/or resolution of their symptoms. Taken together, the data support an ongoing role for varicocelectomy in both of these clinical arenas.
PubMed: 29713547
DOI: 10.1016/j.aju.2017.11.003 -
Arab Journal of Urology Mar 2018To assess the role of differentially expressed proteins as a resource for potential biomarker identification of infertility, as male infertility is of rising concern in...
OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of differentially expressed proteins as a resource for potential biomarker identification of infertility, as male infertility is of rising concern in reproductive medicine and evidence pertaining to its aetiology at a molecular level particularly proteomic as spermatozoa lack transcription and translation. Proteomics is considered as a major field in molecular biology to validate the target proteins in a pathophysiological state. Differential expression analysis of sperm proteins in infertile men and bioinformatics analysis offer information about their involvement in biological pathways.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Literature search was performed on PubMed, Medline, and Science Direct databases using the keywords 'sperm proteomics' and 'male infertility'. We also reviewed the relevant cross references of retrieved articles and included them in the review process. Articles written in any language other than English were excluded.
RESULTS
Of 575 articles identified, preliminary screening for relevant studies eliminated 293 articles. At the next level of selection, from 282 studies only 80 articles related to male infertility condition met the selection criteria and were included in this review.
CONCLUSION
In this molecular era, sperm proteomics has created a platform for enhanced understanding of male reproductive physiology as a potential tool for identification of novel protein biomarkers related to sperm function in infertile men. Therefore, it is believed that proteomic biomarkers can overcome the gaps in information from conventional semen analysis that are of limited clinical utility.
PubMed: 29713541
DOI: 10.1016/j.aju.2017.11.016 -
The British Journal of Radiology Jul 2018The purpose of this study is to assess the current evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of the various embolic materials used in varicoceles embolization. (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Review
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to assess the current evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of the various embolic materials used in varicoceles embolization.
METHODS
A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Databases were searched for clinical studies that investigated the clinical outcomes of embolization treatment for the management of testicular varicoceles. Study methodological quality was analyzed.
RESULTS
23 retrospective and 7 prospective clinical studies were identified with a total of 3505 patients. Technical success rates appear to be above 90% for all embolic materials without any significant differences. In terms of recurrence rates, glue (N = 251) appeared to have the lowest and sclerosants alone (N = 728) the highest recurrence rates which were 4.2% (11-3.08%, SD: 5.9) and 11.03% (18.8-5.15%, SD: 6.06) within an average follow up (f/u) of 16.13 and 25.48 months respectively. Coils alone (N = 898) had an average recurrence rate of 9.1% (17.8-1.4%; SD: 5.79) and a mean f/u of 39.3 months. After an average of 12 months of f/u, the addition of sclerosants (N = 1628) as an adjunct to coils did not improve recurrence rates (8.44%, 16.5-5.1%; SD: 3.4). No differences were reported regarding the safety profile of the various embolic materials.
CONCLUSION
Despite the heterogeneity of the included studies, preliminary evidence supports the safe and effective use of the various embolic materials currently used for the management of varicoceles. At 1 year, glue appears to be the most effective in preventing recurrence with coils being the second most effective. The addition of sclerosants to the coil embolization did not appear to have an impact on recurrence rates. Further research is required to elucidate the cost-effectiveness of these approaches. Advances in knowledge: Varicocele embolization appears to be a safe and effective technique regardless of the embolic agent. Addition of a sclerosant agent to coil embolization does not appear to improve outcomes.
Topics: Biocompatible Materials; Embolization, Therapeutic; Humans; Male; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Testicular Diseases; Treatment Outcome; Varicocele
PubMed: 29493263
DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20170445 -
Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica... Jul 2018In the work-up of patients with suspected pelvic congestion syndrome, venography is currently the gold standard. Yet if non-invasive diagnostic tools are found to be...
INTRODUCTION
In the work-up of patients with suspected pelvic congestion syndrome, venography is currently the gold standard. Yet if non-invasive diagnostic tools are found to be accurate, invasive venography might no longer be indicated as necessary.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A literature search in Pubmed and EMBASE was performed from inception until 6 May 2017. Studies comparing non-invasive diagnostic tools to a reference standard in the work-up of patients with (suspected) pelvic congestion syndrome were included. Relevant data were extracted and methodological quality of individual included studies was assessed by the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool.
RESULTS
Nine studies matched our inclusion criteria. Six studies compared ultrasonography to venography and three studies described a magnetic resonance imaging technique. In using transvaginal ultrasonography, the occurrence of a vein greater than five mm crossing the uterine body had a specificity of 91% (95% CI; 77-98%) and occurrence of pelvic varicoceles a sensitivity and specificity of 100% (95% CI; 89-100%) and 83-100% (95% CI; 66-93%), respectively. In transabdominal ultrasonography, reversed caudal flow in the ovarian vein accounted for a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI; 84-100%). Detection of pelvic congestion syndrome with magnetic resonance imaging techniques resulted in a sensitivity varying from 88 to 100%.
CONCLUSIONS
The sensitivity of ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging seem to be adequate, which indicates a role for both tests in an early stage of the diagnostic workup. However, due to methodological flaws and diversity in outcome parameters, more high standard research is necessary to establish a clear advice for clinical practice.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Ovary; Pelvic Pain; Pelvis; Phlebography; Syndrome; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Ultrasonography; Varicose Veins
PubMed: 29381188
DOI: 10.1111/aogs.13311 -
Journal of Pediatric Urology Oct 2017The prevalence of varicoceles is as high as 15% in children and adolescents. Optimal management of varicoceles has not been consolidated. Options include observation,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of varicoceles is as high as 15% in children and adolescents. Optimal management of varicoceles has not been consolidated. Options include observation, radiological intervention, or surgical varicocelectomy.
OBJECTIVE
Herein, we aim to assess the outcomes of radiological and surgical interventions for varicocele in children and adolescents evaluated by RCTs.
STUDY DESIGN
The study subjects were children and adolescents up to 21 years old, diagnosed with varicocele and allocated to receive either "surgical or radiological intervention" or "no treatment".
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE (Ovid platform), Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Google Scholar, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform for RCTs reporting on varicocele treatment in children and adolescents up to June 23, 2016. Only RCTs with patients aged under 21 years were included. Main outcomes of interest included changes in testicular size, semen analysis parameters, surgical adverse events and failures.
RESULTS
Nine eligible studies were included in the systematic review. Meta-analysis based on available outcomes data demonstrated an improvement in testicular volume (mean difference 3.18 mL, 95% CI 1.94-4.42) and in sperm count (mean difference 25.54 × 10/mL, 95% CI 12.84-38.25) in patients who underwent radiological or surgical treatment compared with conservative management.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on current available randomized controlled trials, there is low to moderate level of evidence that radiological or surgical treatment of adolescent varicocele is associated with improved testicular size/growth and sperm concentration. The ultimate effects on fertility and paternity rates are not known.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Humans; Male; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Varicocele; Young Adult
PubMed: 28851509
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2017.07.008 -
Human Reproduction Update Jul 2017Infertility is a global public health issue, affecting 15% of all couples of reproductive age. Male factors, including decreased semen quality, are responsible for ~25%... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Infertility is a global public health issue, affecting 15% of all couples of reproductive age. Male factors, including decreased semen quality, are responsible for ~25% of these cases. The dietary pattern, the components of the diet and nutrients have been studied as possible determinants of sperm function and/or fertility.
OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE
Previous systematic reviews have been made of the few heterogeneous low-quality randomized clinical trials (RCTs) conducted in small samples of participants and investigating the effect of specific nutrients and nutritional supplements on male infertility. However, as yet there has been no systematic review of observational studies.
SEARCH METHODS
A comprehensive systematic review was made of the published literature, from the earliest available online indexing year to November 2016, in accordance with the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. We have included cross-sectional, case-control and prospective and retrospective studies in which fertile/infertile men were well defined (men with sperm disorders, sperm DNA damage, varicocele or idiopathic infertility). The primary outcomes were semen quality or fecundability. With the data extracted, we evaluated and scored the quality of the studies selected. We excluded RCTs, animal studies, review articles and low-quality studies.
OUTCOMES
A total of 1944 articles were identified, of which 35 were selected for qualitative analysis. Generally, the results indicated that healthy diets rich in some nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, some antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C, β-carotene, selenium, zinc, cryptoxanthin and lycopene), other vitamins (vitamin D and folate) and low in saturated fatty acids and trans-fatty acids were inversely associated with low semen quality parameters. Fish, shellfish and seafood, poultry, cereals, vegetables and fruits, low-fat dairy and skimmed milk were positively associated with several sperm quality parameters. However, diets rich in processed meat, soy foods, potatoes, full-fat dairy and total dairy products, cheese, coffee, alcohol, sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets have been detrimentally associated with the quality of semen in some studies. As far as fecundability is concerned, a high intake of alcohol, caffeine and red meat and processed meat by males has a negative influence on the chance of pregnancy or fertilization rates in their partners.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS
Male adherence to a healthy diet could improve semen quality and fecundability rates. Since observational studies may prove associations but not causation, the associations summarized in the present review need to be confirmed with large prospective cohort studies and especially with well-designed RCTs.
Topics: Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet; Feeding Behavior; Female; Fertility; Food; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Observational Studies as Topic; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Semen Analysis
PubMed: 28333357
DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmx006