COMPARISON OF TWO COMMERCIAL TEST KITS FOR QUANTIFICATION OF SERUM CARBOHYDRATE-DEFICIENT TRANSFERRIN

Serum levels of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) weremeasured in subjects of two independent studies using two differentcommercial kits. The kits measure CDT either as a percentageof total transferrin (AXIS %CDT^TM, AXIS Biochemicals AS, Norway),or as the absolute amount (CDTect^TM, Pharmacia, Sweden). Ina population of males (mean age 41 years) consisting of alcoholics,heavy, moderate and non-drinkers, a strong correlation was foundbetween AXIS %CDT and CDTect results (r=0.92, n=58, P<0.001).Sensitivity and specificity in detecting chronic alcoholic drinkingof over 60 g/day were 78 and 94% for the AXIS assay, and 83and 88% for the CDTect assay, respectively. In a populationfrom a birth cohort study, consisting of 21-year-old males andfemales with less excessive alcohol consumption, the correlationbetween AXIS %CDT and CDTect CDT was weaker but still statisticallysignificant (r=0.46. n=212, =<0.001). In this population,with specificities >83% in detecting alcohol consumptionlevels of     

Seminal peroxidase positive cells are not an adequate indicator of asymptomatic urethral genital infection

The relationship between asymptomatic urethral infection and seminal white blood cells, as detected using the peroxidase enzyme system, was examined. Eighty-four semen donors were tested. Twenty-four (29%) were diagnosed as having an active urethral genital infection. There was no statistical relationship between the total number of concentrations of peroxidase-positive cells and a urethral genital infection. Further studies should concentrate on the subtypes of seminal leucocytes and their surface receptors using monoclonal antibodies.     

Antisperm antibodies and lymphocyte subsets in semen—not a simple relationship

The significance of white blood cells in the ejaculate remains a matter of controversy. Several authors have suggested that such cells are important in the modulation of an antisperm antibody response, i.e. a predominance of suppressor/cytotoxic to helper/inducer T cells may prevent the development of antisperm antibodies. In order to examine this relationship further we have documented the white blood cell types, with emphasis on the T-lymphocyte populations, in the ejaculates of men from infertile couples with and without antisperm antibodies; the latter group was divided further into two groups--vasovasostomized men and idiopathic men. All seven of the men without antisperm antibodies had a predominance of suppressor/cytotoxic T cells to helper/inducer T cells in the ejaculate. However, only in some of the men with antibodies was there a predominance of T-helper/inducer cells. It is clear that the relationship between antisperm antibodies and seminal leucocytes is therefore not as straightforward as has been proposed.