Aghigh Ziaeemehr - ۱: Cancer Research Center, Mashhad University of medical sciences, Mashhad, Iran & Surgical Oncology Research Center, Mashhad university of medical sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Hiva Sharebiani - Immunology Research Center, Inflammation and Inflammatory Diseases Division, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Hossein Taheri - Surgery Department, Farabi Hospital, Mashhad, Iran.
Bahare Fazeli - Immunology Research Center, Inflammation and Inflammatory Diseases Division, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. & Vascular Independent Research and Education, European Foundation. Milan, Italy.

Background: During the gathering of demographic data for the biobank on Buerger’s Disease (BD), we found that, after the clinical manifestation of BD, the patients usually became infertile, and the age of their last child was compatible with the time of disease diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the underlying cause of secondary infertility in BD patients. Methods: Anti-sperm antibodies (ASA), testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the sera of ۳۹ male BD patients were measured and compared with ۳۹ age-matched Caucasian male controls. Results: Six patients declared that they suffered from impotency. The ASA level was positive in ۲۵.۶% of the patients and ۲.۴% of the controls (p= ۰.۰۰۳, CC= ۶.۹۶). The mean levels of testosterone in the patients and controls were ۳۹۳.۱۲±۳۲.۹ ng/dl and ۳۵۴.۳۷±۳۰.۹ ng/dl, respectively. The mean levels of LH in the patients and controls were ۰.۸۸±۰.۱۲ mIU/r and ۰.۸۵±۰.۱ mIU/r, respectively. The mean levels of FSH in the patients and controls were ۴.۱± ۰.۳۵ mIU/r and ۳.۵۶±۰.۳۳ mIU/r, respectively. No significant difference in the serum levels of testosterone, LH, or FSH was found between the patients and controls (p> ۰.۰۵). The spermograms of three ASA-negative patients demonstrated impaired sperm motility.  Conclusions: Anti-sperm antibodies, disturbed genital circulation, autonomic dysfunction and sperm motility may be responsible for secondary infertility in Buerger’s Disease.

Anti-sperm antibody, Buerger’s Disease, Infertility, Thromboangiitis Obliterans