Effects of TNF antagonists on sperm characteristics in patients with spondyloarthritis
Abstract
Objective To study the influence of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists on spermatogenesis in a cohort of patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA).Patients and methods Semen samples of 26 patients with SpA were analysed according to WHO 1999 guidelines with and without TNF blocking agents (infliximab, etanercept or adalimumab).Results were compared with semen samples of 102 healthy volunteers. Results Sperm abnormalities were found in 10/11 patients without anti-TNF therapy. The sperm of these 11 patients had significantly poorer motility (p=0.001) and vitality (p=0.001) than found in 15 patients tested during longstanding anti-TNF therapy, but sperm concentration and morphology were similar in the two groups. There was no significant difference of sperm quality between healthy controls and anti-TNF treated patients with SpA. Notably, sperm abnormalities were also found in 102 healthy controls.Conclusion Sperm abnormalities are a common finding in healthy men, they are more pronounced in patients with active SpA. The sperm quality of patients with SpA with inactive disease receiving long-term TNF inhibition is comparable to that in healthy controls. The data support continuation of anti-TNF treatment when fatherhood is planned.
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Chronic inflammatory diseases can lead to loss of reproduction potential because affected individuals are at strong disadvantage in competition for food, social status, and sexual partners, and intense inflammation can inhibit the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
“Chronic inflammatory diseases can lead to loss of reproduction potential because affected individuals are at strong disadvantage. Such individuals can be excluded or impaired in the competition for food; they can also have low social status in the group and limited choice or availability of sexual partners.”
From Evolutionary medicine and chronic inflammatory state—known and new concepts in pathophysiology (2012) · cites this paper as [18]
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Evolutionary medicine and chronic inflammatory state—known and new concepts in pathophysiology
Straub, R. H. (2012) · Journal of Molecular Medicine · doi:10.1007/s00109-012-0861-8 · Cited by 105 · see citing works
- Authors
- Villiger, P. M., Caliezi, G., Cottin, V., Förger, F., Senn, A., & Østensen, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Bern (CH)
- Centre for Medically Assisted Procreation (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Villiger, Peter M
- Venue
- Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-10
- Volume
- 69
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1842-1844
- ISSN
- 0003-4967 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2126451235
- Cited by
- 134
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 7.58
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Bern Open Repository and Information System (University of Bern) (submittedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Spondyloarthritis Studies and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Sperm and Testicular Function
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Rheumatoid Arthritis Research and Therapies
- Keywords
- TNF antagonists, spondyloarthritis, semen quality, spermatogenesis, infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab, sperm motility, sperm viability, male infertility, anti-TNF therapy
- MeSH terms
- Etanercept, Adalimumab, Infliximab, Adolescent, Adult, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humans, Immunoglobulin G, Male, Middle Aged, Sperm Motility, Spermatogenesis, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Antirheumatic Agents, Spondylarthritis, Young Adult, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
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