α-glycosidase activity in seminal plasma:: predictive value for outcome in intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization

Objective: To test the hypothesis that alpha-glycosidase activity in seminal plasma can predict the outcome of both IUI and NF. Design: A retrospective cohort study. Setting: Tertiary fertility center in a university hospital. Patient(s): Eighty-three subfertile couples who underwent IUI and 125 subfertile couples who underwent IVF. Intervention: None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Determination of the alpha-glycosidase activity in seminal plasma before an IUI or IVF attempt, correlation of alpha-glycosidase activity and other semen parameters, and prediction of pregnancy using alpha-glycosidase activity in seminal plasma. Result(s): alpha-Glycosidase activity correlated with sperm count. In the IUI group, alpha-glycosidase activity of >23.9 mU/mL predicted pregnancy with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 55.2%. In the IVF group, the outcome could not be predicted with use of any of the semen parameters. Conclusion(s): alpha-Glycosidase activity measured in mU/mL probably can be used as a predictor for IVF and pregnancy in an IUI program but has no predictive value with regard to pregnancy rate in an IVF program. (C) 1998 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.).