title: Impaired spermatogenesis: an unrecognized feature of cartilage-hair hypoplasia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cartilage-hair hypoplasia (CHH), an autosomal recessive chondrodysplasia, is characterized by severe growth failure, hypoplastic hair, impaired immunity, and deficient erythropoiesis. These features may result from a generalized defect in cell proliferation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In order to investigate whether an impairment of cell proliferation is present in spermatogenesis, we analysed fertility in a clinical and laboratory study of adult males with CHH.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven adult males (median age 29 years, range 21-49 years) with CHH were included in the study. The patients were examined clinically for testicular volume and other clinical characteristics. Blood samples were collected to determine serum concentrations of sex hormones, sex hormone-binding globulin, inhibin B and gonadotrophins (basal and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone-stimulated). Semen samples were analysed for volume, sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and antibody status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The testicular size was subnormal in some patients, but the serum concentrations of testosterone, inhibin B and gonadotrophins were usually normal. The semen analyses were not within normal limits in any of the patients, as indicated by low sperm concentration, decreased motility and/or morphological changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The defect in cell proliferation in men with CHH also involves the spermatogenic cells and is evident as an impairment of spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki, Finland. outi.makitie@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Mäkitie
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Tapanainen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dunkel
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Siimes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004392:Dwarfism / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012661:Semen; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*