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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, Nicolò S, Torcia M, Annunziato F, Maggi M, Vignozzi L, Bartoloni A, Rossolini GM, Serni S, Gacci M. Male reproductive system inflammation after healing from coronavirus disease 2019. Andrology 2021; 10:1030-1037. [PMID: 34889528 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Morselli
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Arcangelo Sebastianelli
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Liaci
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Claudia Zaccaro
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessio Pecoraro
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Rossella Nicoletti
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alekseja Manera
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Claudio Bisegna
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Riccardo Campi
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Simona Pollini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alberto Antonelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Filippo Lagi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Marco Coppi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Baldi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Unit of Sexual Medicine and Andrology, Center of Excellence DeNothe, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Sara Marchiani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences Mario Serio University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Sabrina Nicolò
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences Mario Serio University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Torcia
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Annunziato
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Mario Maggi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences Mario Serio University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Sexual Medicine & Andrology Unit - Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences Mario Serio University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Linda Vignozzi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences Mario Serio University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Sexual Medicine & Andrology Unit - Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences Mario Serio University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Gian Maria Rossolini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Sergio Serni
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Mauro Gacci
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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