Background: There is evidence that, after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, male reproductive function and semen quality may be damaged. Objectives: To evaluate a panel of inflammatory mediators in semen in patients recovered from coronavirus disease 2019. Material and methods: Sexually active men with previous severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and proven recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 were enrolled in a prospective cohort study. Clinical, uro-andrological data and semen specimens were prospectively collected. For previously hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 patients, data on serum inflammatory markers were retrospectively collected. Results: A total of 43 men were enrolled in the study. Of these, 32 men were normozoospermic, three were oligozoospermic, and eight were crypto-azoospermic. Serum inflammatory markers (procalcitonin and C-reactive protein) were analyzed in previously hospitalized patients both at admission and at peak of infection. Levels at admission were statistically significantly higher in patients resulting in crypto-azoospermic with respect to those resulting in normozoospermic (p = 0.05; p = 0.03 and p = 0.02, respectively) after healing. Seminal cytokine levels were similar among all groups. Interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were significantly negatively related to sperm total number and concentration, whereas interleukin-4 was correlated with sperm motility. Discussion and conclusion: Negative correlations between interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α and sperm number and the overall high levels of semen cytokines indicate a potential detrimental role of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 driven inflammation on spermatogenesis. Overall, our results indicate that male patients recovering from coronavirus disease 2019 deserve accurate follow-up for their fertility status.

Male reproductive system inflammation after healing from coronavirus disease 2019 / Morselli S.; Sebastianelli A.; Liaci A.; Zaccaro C.; Pecoraro A.; Nicoletti R.; Manera A.; Bisegna C.; Campi R.; Pollini S.; Antonelli A.; Lagi F.; Coppi M.; Baldi E.; Marchiani S.; Nicolo S.; Torcia M.; Annunziato F.; Maggi M.; Vignozzi L.; Bartoloni A.; Rossolini G.M.; Serni S.; Gacci M.. - In: ANDROLOGY. - ISSN 2047-2919. - STAMPA. - 10:(2022), pp. 1030-1037. [10.1111/andr.13138]

Male reproductive system inflammation after healing from coronavirus disease 2019

Morselli S.;Sebastianelli A.;Liaci A.;Zaccaro C.;Bisegna C.;Campi R.;Pollini S.;Antonelli A.;Lagi F.;Coppi M.;Baldi E.;Marchiani S.;Nicolo S.;Torcia M.;Annunziato F.;Maggi M.;Vignozzi L.;Bartoloni A.;Rossolini G. M.;Serni S.;Gacci M.
2022

Abstract

Background: There is evidence that, after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, male reproductive function and semen quality may be damaged. Objectives: To evaluate a panel of inflammatory mediators in semen in patients recovered from coronavirus disease 2019. Material and methods: Sexually active men with previous severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and proven recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 were enrolled in a prospective cohort study. Clinical, uro-andrological data and semen specimens were prospectively collected. For previously hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 patients, data on serum inflammatory markers were retrospectively collected. Results: A total of 43 men were enrolled in the study. Of these, 32 men were normozoospermic, three were oligozoospermic, and eight were crypto-azoospermic. Serum inflammatory markers (procalcitonin and C-reactive protein) were analyzed in previously hospitalized patients both at admission and at peak of infection. Levels at admission were statistically significantly higher in patients resulting in crypto-azoospermic with respect to those resulting in normozoospermic (p = 0.05; p = 0.03 and p = 0.02, respectively) after healing. Seminal cytokine levels were similar among all groups. Interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were significantly negatively related to sperm total number and concentration, whereas interleukin-4 was correlated with sperm motility. Discussion and conclusion: Negative correlations between interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α and sperm number and the overall high levels of semen cytokines indicate a potential detrimental role of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 driven inflammation on spermatogenesis. Overall, our results indicate that male patients recovering from coronavirus disease 2019 deserve accurate follow-up for their fertility status.
2022
10
1030
1037
Morselli S.; Sebastianelli A.; Liaci A.; Zaccaro C.; Pecoraro A.; Nicoletti R.; Manera A.; Bisegna C.; Campi R.; Pollini S.; Antonelli A.; Lagi F.; Coppi M.; Baldi E.; Marchiani S.; Nicolo S.; Torcia M.; Annunziato F.; Maggi M.; Vignozzi L.; Bartoloni A.; Rossolini G.M.; Serni S.; Gacci M.
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/1256600
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