Obstructive azoospermia associated with chronic sinopulmonary infection and situs inversus totalis.
We describe 2 cases of obstructive azoospermia associated with situs inversus and sinopulmonary infection due to ciliary defects. Electron microscopy of testicular sperm flagella demonstrated normal morphology with nine peripheral doublets surrounding a central pair and complete sets of inner and outer dynein arms. Electron microscopy of the nasal mucosa revealed partial defects of the dynein arms of cilia, although the "9+2" morphology was preserved. Our cases were considered unique variants of Young's syndrome but also had characteristic features of Kartagener syndrome, and thus support the hypothesis that Young's syndrome has a genetic etiology similar to that of Kartagener syndrome.
Ichioka
Kentaro
K
Department of Urology, Kurashiki Central Hospital, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan. ichioka@mq.0038.net
Kohei
Naoki
N
Okubo
Kazutoshi
K
Nishiyama
Hiroyuki
H
Terai
Akito
A
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002923:Cilia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002925:Ciliary Motility Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007619:Kartagener Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections; D012857:Situs Inversus; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013577:Syndrome; D014463:Ultrasonography