A hydrocele is a common condition which affects all age-group males including babies. It may be defined as a collection of serous fluid within the tunica vaginalis either surrounding the testis or along the spermatic cord or both.
Congenital hydrocele is due to complete failure of the processus funicularis closure and most of the fluid collections subside spontaneously during the first year of life. The great majority of hydrocele are primary variety and its etiology is unknown. Secondary hydrocele may be developed to local injury, epididymitis and testicular neoplasms. Chronic hydrocele is common in tropical and subtropical countries where there is a high .incidence of filariasis.
Some investigators have reported that hydrocele fluid collections are due to lymphatic defect or peritoneal fluid, It is generally known that hydrocele fluid resembles blood plasma.
We performed electrophoresis and electrolytic analysis of hydrocele fluid and serum in 20 cases of hydrocele patients from January, 1981 to September, 1982. And then we obtained the statistical difference between hydrocele fluid and serum.
The results are summarized as below:
1. Total protein of hydrocele fluid (4.125 gm/dl) is lower than that of serum (7,535 gm/dl). Statistical difference is greatly significant (p=below 0.005).
2. The proportion of albumin (71.780%) is higher than that of serum (65.685%). The proportion of alpha 2 and gamma globulin (6.880%, 5.535%) are lower than that of serum (10.125%, 8.730%). These statistical difference are greatly significant (p=below 0.005).
3. The proportion of alpha-1 and beta globulin (3.495%, 12.215%) are higher than that of serum (3.105%, 11.935%). There is no statistical significance (p=above 0.1 ).
4. Sugar of hydrocele fluid (87.65 mg/dl) is lower than that of serum (95.40 mg/dl), but there is no statistical significance (p=above 0.1).
5. Electrolytes of hydrocele fluid are lower than those of serum. Sodium (130 mEq/1); great statistical significance (p=below 0.005). Potassium (3.93 mEq/l); no statistical significance (p=above 0.1). Chloride (97.95 mEq/l); no statistical significance (p=above 0.1).
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