The outcomes of drug treatment for male infertility remain conjectural, with controversial study results.
Our pilot study employed a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover methodology with intention-to-treat analysis. Thirty-three men with idiopathic oligospermia were randomized to start either daily oral lisinopril 2.5 mg (n = 17) or daily oral placebo (n = 16). Lisinopril was found to cause a normalization of seminal parameters in 53.6% of the participants. Although the mean ejaculate volume was unchanged (P ≥ 0.093), the total sperm cell count and the percentage of motile sperm cells increased (P ≤ 0.03 and P < 0.001, respectively), whereas the percentage of sperm cells with abnormal morphology decreased (P ≤ 0.04). The pregnancy rate was 48.5%, and there was no serious adverse drug event. It is concluded, albeit cautiously, that prolonged treatment with 2.5 mg/day of oral lisinopril may be well tolerated in normotensive men with idiopathic oligospermia, may improve sperm quantity and quality, and may enhance fertility in approximately half of those treated.
Written by:
Mbah AU, Ndukwu GO, Ghasi SI, Shu EN, Ozoemena FN, Mbah JO, Onodugo OD, Ejim EC, Eze MI, Nkwo PO, Okonkwo PO. Are you the author?
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.
Reference: Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2012 Apr;91(4):582-9.
doi: 10.1038/clpt.2011.265
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 22378155
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