Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30284221›Full record

ReviewJournal of endocrinological investigation2018

Treating varicocele in 2018: current knowledge and treatment options.

M Zavattaro, C Ceruti, G Motta, S Allasia, L Marinelli, C Di Bisceglie, M P Tagliabue, M Sibona, L Rolle, F Lanfranco

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of endocrinological investigation, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 21 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
21citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
3.2field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

21 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 40 citations in OpenAlex.

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  14. Semen parameter improvements after microsurgical subinguinal varicocele repair are durable for more than 12 months.Canadian Urological Association journal = Journal de l'Association des urologues du Canada · 2020
    Article
  15. Review
  16. Symptoms in Dilating Venous Disease.Current cardiology reviews · 2020
    Review
  17. Observational
  18. Article
  19. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2019
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 2 institutions in 3 countries.

M ZavattaroDivision of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Corso Dogliotti 14, 10126, Turin, Italy.
C CerutiDivision of Urology, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
G MottaDivision of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Corso Dogliotti 14, 10126, Turin, Italy.
S AllasiaDivision of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Corso Dogliotti 14, 10126, Turin, Italy.
L MarinelliDivision of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Corso Dogliotti 14, 10126, Turin, Italy.
C Di BisceglieDivision of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Corso Dogliotti 14, 10126, Turin, Italy.
M P TagliabueDivision of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Corso Dogliotti 14, 10126, Turin, Italy.
M SibonaDivision of Urology, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
L RolleDivision of Urology, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
F LanfrancoDivision of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Corso Dogliotti 14, 10126, Turin, Italy. fabio.lanfranco@unito.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2270-0465
University of Turin · ITDepartment of Medical Sciences · RU

Funding

Università degli Studi di Torino Ricerca locale ex-60%
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeVaricocele is defined as a state of varicosity and tortuosity of the pampiniform plexus around the testis caused by retrograde blood flow through the internal spermatic vein. The prevalence of clinically relevant varicocele ranges from 5 to 20% in the male population and is often associated with infertility and reduction of sperm quality. In this review, the pathophysiology and clinical aspects of varicocele are reviewed along with therapeutic options and treatment effects on sperm parameters and fertility both in adult and in pediatric/adolescent subjects.

methodsWe conducted a Medline and a PubMed search from 1965 to 2018 to identify publications related to varicocele clinical aspects, treatment procedures and treatment outcomes. Keywords used for the search were: "varicocele", "varicocelectomy", "sclerotherapy", "male infertility", "subfertility", and "semen abnormalities".

resultsData from a large number of studies in adolescent and adult males indicate that varicocele correction improves semen parameters in the majority of patients, reducing oxidative stress and improving sperm nuclear DNA integrity either with surgical or percutaneous approach.

conclusionsVaricocele repair seems to represent a cost-effective therapeutic option for all males (both adolescent and adults) with a clinical varicocele in the presence of testicular hypotrophy, worsening sperm alterations or infertility. On the other hand, some investigators questioned the role of varicocelectomy in the era of assisted reproduction. Thus, a better understanding of the pathophysiology of varicocele-associated male subfertility is of paramount importance to elucidating the deleterious effects of varicocele on spermatogenesis and possibly formulating new treatment strategies.

Indexed as

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansInfertility, MaleMaleTreatment OutcomeVaricoceleMale infertilitySpermVaricoceleVaricocelectomy

Identifiers

PMID30284221
OpenAlexW2894759906

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.