TNF and FAE psoriasis treatments effect on male fertility

[Fred]

This study looked at male fertility and sperm quality in patients with psoriasis that use TNF-alpha inhibitors or fumaric acid esters.

Quote:

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Objective:
Is there any influence of a therapy with TNF-alpha inhibitors or fumaric acid esters and of disease activity status on male fertility and sperm quality in patients with psoriasis?

Methods:
In this monocentric, open-label, prospective study, semen samples were collected from patients receiving either TNF-alpha inhibitors or fumaric acid esters for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Semen was analysed at baseline before onset of the systemic therapy and monitored every 3 months under therapy. Sperm parameters were assessed according to the current WHO definitions.

Results:
In total, 101 semen specimens from 27 patients were obtained. Mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score at baseline was 11.05. Only 14.8% of patients showed a normozoospermia without any other abnormal seminal values. 85.2% of patients had at least one sperm/seminal abnormality, including two patients showing an azoospermia. Interestingly, 48.1% showed sperm parameters indicative of genital tract inflammation. Therapy with TNF-alpha inhibitors or fumaric acid esters did not have any negative effects on relevant sperm parameters such as mean total sperm number, sperm concentration, total and progressive motility. No major gonadal dysfunction was observed in any patient.

Conclusion:
At baseline, many patients with psoriasis showed abnormal semen/sperm parameters and remarkably elevated leukocytes and values of seminal polymorphonuclear elastase, indicating a genital tract inflammation. Thus, genital tract inflammation may represent an important comorbidity of psoriasis, little attention paid to so far. Regarding treatment with TNF-alpha inhibitors or fumaric acid esters, no major negative (side-) effects on sperm quality were observed.

Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

*Funding: Wyeth, Pfizer & Biogen

[D Foster]

Looking at this item I just wonder if a Vasectomy would have any influence on the P in some way.

[Fred]

Looking at this item I just wonder if a Vasectomy would have any influence on the P in some way.

Good question Dave, but I wouldn't have thought so. I had one about 5 years after getting psoriasis and it didn't make any difference to the psoriasis. .

[Turnedlight]

Interesting, there's a lot of treatments people can take before they think about having children, which can have lasting effects. I read recently that taking methotrexate (before having children) can affect your grand daughters fertility, though I don't know if this is only in larger doses. They used to only worry about the patients own fertility..

[Caroline]

Interesting, there's a lot of treatments people can take before they think about having children, which can have lasting effects. I read recently that taking methotrexate (before having children) can affect your grand daughters fertility, though I don't know if this is only in larger doses. They used to only worry about the patients own fertility..

That is a scary side effect, influencing your granddaughters fertility.

@Fred and @Dave genital tract inflammation, would that mean that your balls hurt if you have this comorbidity of Psoriasis?

[Fred]

@Fred and @Dave genital tract inflammation, would that mean that your balls hurt if you have this comorbidity of Psoriasis?

I'm ok then mine only hurt if they get hit with a plank of wood.

[Maryam]

Interesting, there's a lot of treatments people can take before they think about having children, which can have lasting effects. I read recently that taking methotrexate (before having children) can affect your grand daughters fertility, though I don't know if this is only in larger doses. They used to only worry about the patients own fertility..

Was there a study about this?

The interesting thing though is that there is a switch in the advice about stopping mtx before ypu start children. This used to be 3 months, but some doctors (and protocols) are now leaning towards 6 months, including my own dermatologist. She said with mtx she’d rather sat on the safe side.

[D Foster]

@Fred and @Dave genital tract inflammation, would that mean that your balls hurt if you have this comorbidity of Psoriasis?

I'm ok then mine only hurt if they get hit with a plank of wood.  

I am not coming around your neck of the woods if there are planks of wood roaming free doing that to you.

[Fred]

@Fred and @Dave genital tract inflammation, would that mean that your balls hurt if you have this comorbidity of Psoriasis?

I'm ok then mine only hurt if they get hit with a plank of wood.  

I am not coming around your neck of the woods if there are planks of wood roaming free doing that to you.

You need to know the secret password.

[D Foster]

@Fred and @Dave genital tract inflammation, would that mean that your balls hurt if you have this comorbidity of Psoriasis?

I'm ok then mine only hurt if they get hit with a plank of wood.  

I am not coming around your neck of the woods if there are planks of wood roaming free doing that to you.

You need to know the secret password.  

I know a secret password but not necessarily your secret password will this be good enough..