Concentrations of sex hormones in the pampiniform plexus of testicles in patients with varicocele

The study of the levels of sex hormones in 35 patients with varicocele, underwent Marmar-Goldstein surgery, and 31 patients underwent surgery on the scrotum due to hydrocele, inguinal hernia, as well as other pathology of testicles. The levels of hormones (testosterone, estradiol, progesterone) were measured in serum taken simultaneously from the cubital vein and the pampiniform plexus vein. The highest level of sex hormones were observed in the veins of the pampiniform plexus in patients with varicocele, testosterone (1445.769 119.175 ng / ml) and estradiol (1528.519 137.238 pg / ml) levels were in more than 150 times higher than normal, concentration of progesterone (6.484 0.935 ng / ml) was increased not so significantly. In the control group, increase of sex hormones level was not so significant - from sevenfold (progesterone) to 33 - fold (testosterone). The pathogenesis of varicocele as a hormone-dependent phlebopathy is discussed. Stagnation of blood in the pampiniform venous plexus and increase of sex hormones level, especially estrogen and progesterone, on the first stage of the development of varicocele can cause hormone-dependent phlebopa-thy, able to undergo reverse development according to stabilization and reduction of sex hormones level. In patients with connective tissue dysplasia phlebopathy progresses into a phase of irreversible changes in the venous wall with a significant and persistent expansion of the lumen of the pampiniform plexus veins, which requires surgical intervention. Authors offer a method of assessment of varicocele severity and possibility of its recurrence by the level of hormones in the venous blood.