Genetic disorders in normally androgenized infertile men and the use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection as a way of treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in normally androgenized infertile men with no other recognized causes of infertility or who had ever been submitted to other unsuccessful methods of treatment.


METHODS
Collaborative retrospective study of clinical experience collected by an endocrinologist and a geneticist over a 5-year period.


METHODS
Outpatients at an endocrinology clinic.


METHODS
Infertile male patients with azoospermia (n = 23), oligozoospermia (n = 66), and normozoospermia (n = 14) presenting normal (n = 85) or subnormal (n = 18) testicular volume.


METHODS
All patients were submitted to cytogenetic analysis.


METHODS
Two patients were referred to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and in one case, a successful gemellar pregnancy ended up uneventful. Children's genetic testing were not performed according to parents' request.


RESULTS
Abnormal karyotypes were found in 11 (10.6%) patients. Chromosomal abnormalities were found in 17.3% of the 23 azoospermic patients, in 10.6% of the 66 oligozoospermic patients, and in none of the 14 normozoospermic patients. These disorders were found only in patients with normal testicular volumes and no more than 10 x 10(6) spermatozoa per mL.


CONCLUSIONS
A high incidence of chromosomal abnormalities was found in a selected group of normally androgenized infertile male patients. The elevated rate of fertilization achieved in one patient indicates that ICSI is, at the moment, the only choice for treatment of male infertility because of chromosomal abnormalities.
Bonaccorsi
A C
AC
Pontifical University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Martins
R R
RR
Vargas
F
F
Franco Júnior
J G
JG
Botler
J
J
D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D009030:Mosaicism; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D002996:Clomiphene