ArticleEndocrine connections2025
Association of leukocyte elastase in semen and seminal plasma with sperm parameters and pregnancy outcomes in male fertility.
Article in Endocrine connections, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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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.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Effects of Ureaplasma urealyticum infection in human genital tract on sperm DNA and semen quality in male patients.European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology · 2026Article
- Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Male Infertility: A Narrative Review of Diagnostic Value and Clinical Integration.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Semen analysis is the standard test for evaluating male fertility. However, it may not address all aspects of male infertility. This review explores the role of leukocyte elastase (LE) as a possible biomarker for male fertility by evaluating 28 corresponding studies. Objectives: We aimed to explore how LE levels in semen relate to sperm quality and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and included studies from PubMed, Medline, Embase and Scopus (March 22-25, 2024) using the keywords 'elastase', 'sperm' and 'semen'. Out of 897 identified articles, 334 were screened, leading to 90 full-text reviews. We included 28 studies reporting sperm parameters linked to LE and excluded non-English articles, reviews and animal studies. Data collected included study details, methods, population, LE levels, sperm characteristics and pregnancy outcomes. A narrative synthesis was used because of differing study designs. Quality assessment, using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute tool, rated 21 studies medium quality, 6 high and 1 low. Results: Only a limited number of studies reported a correlation between LE levels and sperm parameters, with no significant link to sperm concentration. Overall, we did not identify a strong association between LE levels and pregnancy or fertilization rates. Conclusions: Although LE serves as a marker for seminal leukocyte concentration, its link to sperm quality and fertility outcomes remains weak and inconsistent. Based on current evidence, LE does not appear to be a reliable diagnostic marker for male infertility. Future studies should focus on standardizing LE measurement techniques and exploring its interaction with other semen parameters to clarify its role in male fertility.
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