title: Y chromosome azoospermia factor region microdeletions and recurrent pregnancy loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Y-chromosome microdeletions in couples with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) as compared with fertile couples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three men from couples with recurrent pregnancy loss, and 43 men from couples with a live birth and no history of miscarriages were recruited from Zekai Tahir Burak Woman Health, Education and Research Hospital. The DNA was tested for the presence of 4 sequence tagged sites (STSs) spanning 4 AZF regions: DYS220 (AZFb), DYS235, DYS236, and DYS237 (AZFd).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven (7) of the 43 men (16%) from couples with recurrent pregnancy loss had microdeletions in 1 or more of the 4 segments studied, whereas none of the fertile men had any microdeletions (P < .05). Their microdeletions were all found specifically at locus DYS 220 (AZFb).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of the Y chromosome microdeletion in AZF region was much higher in men from couples with recurrent pregnancy loss than men in fertile couples. This study showed that Y chromosome microdeletion in AZF region may be a possible etiologic factor of recurrent pregnancy loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr Zekai Tahir Burak Woman Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karaer
authors.forename: Kadri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karaer
authors.forename: Gulnur
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ozaksit
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ceylaner
authors.forename: E Ferda
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Percin
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011336:Probability; D012008:Recurrence; D012016:Reference Values; D012729:Sex Chromosome Aberrations; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric