DIAGNOSIS OF MALE INFERTILITY BY MEASURING TISSUE FACTOR PATHWAY INHIBITOR

摘要

Human semen contains Tissue Factor (TF, Thromboplastin, CD142) and a natural inhibitor of the TF-dependent pathway, Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor (TFPI) in seminal plasma, swim-up sperm and prostasomes. TFPI levels were significantly higher in normal men as compared to sub-fertile (p0.01) or vasectomy subjects (p0.001). A diagnostic method for practicing in vitro is described, consisting of obtaining a sample of semen from a male subject and determining the level of TFPI therein. This is then compared to a reference level. If the measured value is below the reference level, this indicates a low level of fertility in the subject. There is also described a kit for carrying out the described diagnostic method.