Can systemic inflammatory markers predict sperm retrieval with the micro-TESE procedure in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia? A tertiary IVF center experience

INTRODUCTION: We aim to investigate the relationship between the pro-inflammatory markers and sperm retrieval (SR) in microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) procedure in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA).
METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted with 318 patients who applied to our in vitro fertilization Unit between April 2017 and December 2020 and underwent micro-TESE for NOA. Patients with (Group 1) and without (Group 2) sperm retrieved were compared in terms of age, infertility duration, body mass index (BMI), hormone profile, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-eosinophil ratio (MER), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and a new marker of eosinophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (ELR).
RESULTS: SR from the micro-TESE procedure was achieved in 183 (57.5%) of 318 patients. Testicular tissue biopsies were performed simultaneously in all cases. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups concerning BMI. When the groups were compared regarding the pro-inflammatory markers, while the NLR, MER, and PLR were found to be statistically higher in Group 2 cases; ELR was similar among groups.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The MER, NLR, and PLR were determined to be associated with negative micro-TESE results. Particularly PLR seems to have a poor prognostic value in these patients. A prognostic value of the ELR which was a new biomarker was not determined in SR from the TESE procedure.