Effect of varicocelectomy on the plasma oxidative stress parameters

Abstract Aim of Study This study evaluates the long-term effect of varicocelectomy as measured by plasma oxidative stress parameters. Methods Eleven children aged 10 to 16 years presented with left-sided varicocele and ipsilateral testicular hypoplasia. Peripheral blood samples for C-reactive protein, basal thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and plasma peroxidation susceptibility (lag time and slope) were obtained preoperatively and at 1 year after the varicocelectomy. All patients underwent inguinal microvascular varicocelectomy with testicular–inferior epigastric (spermatic-epigastric) venous shunt, and a blood sample from the pampinous plexus was taken. Student's t test for unpaired and paired data was used with a level of significance set at P Results When compared with controls, the cohort preoperative basal TBARS (mean, 2.07 nmol/mL; SD, 0.56 nmol/mL) were higher ( P = .009), and plasma peroxidation susceptibility lag time (mean, 132.92 minutes; SD, 32.8 minutes) was lower ( P = .0002). Blood samples from the pampiniform plexus showed similar results. Peroxidative plasma levels were significantly reduced on peripheral venous specimens taken 1 year after varicocelectomy with mean (SD) TBARS of 1.53 (0.41) nmol/mL ( P = .0003) and mean (SD) lag time of 183.7 (17.46) minutes ( P = .0025). The slope did not show significant changes compared with controls, or before and after surgery. Conclusion Peroxidative plasma levels were significantly reduced 1 year after surgery, indicating that surgical varicocelectomy with construction of venous shunt reduces oxidative stress.