Fibrinolysis and coagulation markers in seminal plasma before and after vasectomy.

Abstract Two groups of patients have been evaluated before (n=80) and after (n=87) vasectomy to assess the eventual presence of haemostasis markers in seminal plasma and if so whether there is an effect of vasectomy on coagulation and fibrinolysis markers. We found thrombin-antithrombin III, prothrombin fragment 1.2, tissue plasminogen activator activity and D-dimer concentrations in well measurable concentrations and calculated the D-Dimer/thrombin-antithrombin III ratios as arbitrary measures for the setting of the fibrinolysis/coagulation balance. Comparing the concentrations of these parameters we found no significant shift after vasectomy for thrombin-antithrombin III, prothrombin fragment 1.2 and tissue plasminogen activator activity. The D-dimer concentrations and the D-dimer/thrombin-antithrombin III ratios however were significantly lower in the postvasectomy group, which suggests a reduction of the fibrinolytic activity. This is a first report on the presence of these haemostasis markers in seminal plasma and we conclude that alterations in the fibrinolysis/coagulation balance occur, which are associated with vasectomy. The meaning of this finding is however still unclear.