有趣的是,在总人口中估计有10%~15%的成年男性和青少年患有精索静脉曲张。[3]Evers JL, Collins JA. Assessment of efficacy of varicocele repair for male subfertility: a systematic review. Lancet. 2003;361:1849-1852.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12788571?tool=bestpractice.com在美国,青少年精索静脉曲张的总发病率为15%,与成年男性的发病率相仿。[4]Steeno O, Knops J, Declerck L, et al. Prevention of fertility disorders by detection and treatment of varicocele at school and college age. Andrologia. 1976;8:47-53.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/986121?tool=bestpractice.com全球范围内精索静脉的发病率可能有差异;一项来自保加利亚的前瞻性研究报道其精索静脉曲张的发病率稍低。[5]Kumanov P, Robeva RN, Tomova A. Adolescent varicocele: who is at risk? Pediatrics. 2008;121:e53-e57.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18166544?tool=bestpractice.com然而,青少年精索静脉曲张的确切发病率或许因记录不全而低估,因为大部分青少年并没有在垂直站立位下进行常规检查。
大部分(>80%)的成年男性精索静脉曲张并未与不育相联系。[6]Sylora JA, Pryor JL. Varicocele. Curr Ther Endocrinol Metab. 1994;5:309-314.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7704742?tool=bestpractice.com[7]Green KF, Turner TT, Howards SS. Varicocele: reversal of the testicular bloodflow and temperature effects by varicocele repair. J Urol. 1984;131:1208-1211.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6726930?tool=bestpractice.com然而,在生殖能力减退的患者中精索静脉曲张的发生是很普遍的。精液参数异常的男性中大约1/4患有精索静脉曲张。[8]World Health Organization. The influence of varicocele on parameters of fertility in a large group of men presenting to infertility clinics. Fertil Steril. 1992;57:1289-1293.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1601152?tool=bestpractice.com并且表现为不育的男性中40%患有精索静脉曲张。此外,多达80%患有继发性不育的男性患有精索静脉曲张。[9]Gorelick JI, Goldstein M. Loss of fertility in men with varicocele. Fertil Steril. 1993;59:613-616.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8458466?tool=bestpractice.com尽管对患者的严格选择已经显示出提高了手术的成功率,早期的研究结果显示大约50%接受手术治疗的患者精液参数有所改善。[10]Dubin L, Amelar RD. Etiologic factors in 1294 consecutive cases of male infertility. Fertil Steril. 1971;22:469-474.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4398669?tool=bestpractice.com青春期前精索静脉曲张很少见,这提示青春期可能是精索静脉曲张的一个起始因子。[11]Vasavada S, Ross J, Nasrallah P, et al. Prepubertal varicoceles. Urology. 1997;50:774-777.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9372891?tool=bestpractice.com90%的精索静脉曲张为左侧病变,大约10%为双侧病变。单独的右侧精索静脉曲张很少见,并且应该考虑其是否为腹膜后或盆腔肿瘤压迫的表现。
一些研究结果表明精索静脉曲张与人体参数有关。精索静脉曲张似乎在高而重的男性中更常见,尽管他们的体质指数与其年龄匹配对照组相比较低。[12]Prabakaran S, Kumanov P, Tomova A, et al. Adolescent varicocele: association with somatometric parameters. Urol Int. 2006;77:114-117.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16888413?tool=bestpractice.com[13]Delaney DP, Carr MC, Kolon TF, et al. The physical characteristics of young males with varicocele. BJU Int. 2004;94:624-626.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15329126?tool=bestpractice.com[14]May M, Taymoorian K, Beutner S, et al. Body size and weight as predisposing factors in varicocele. Scand J Urol Nephrol. 2006;40:45-48.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16452055?tool=bestpractice.com最后,患者的一级亲属中精索静脉曲张的发生率增加,尤其是男性患者的兄弟,这提示其可能具有遗传基础,并且这具有筛查的作用。[15]Raman JD, Walmsley K, Goldstein M. Inheritance of varicoceles. Urology. 2005;65:1186-1189.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15913726?tool=bestpractice.com[16]Mohammadali Beigi F, Mehrabi S, Javaherforooshzadeh A. Varicocele in brothers of patients with varicocele. Urol J. 2007;4:33-35.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17514609?tool=bestpractice.com[17]Mokhtari G, Pourreza F, Falahatkar S, et al. Comparison of prevalence of varicocele in first-degree relatives of patients with varicocele and male kidney donors. Urology. 2008;71:666-668.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18279919?tool=bestpractice.com