title: Y chromosome azoospermia factor region microdeletions are not associated with idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion in a Slovenian population: association study and literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the potential association of Y chromosome microdeletions with idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion (IRSA) in a Slovenian population and compare our results with those of previously published studies in different populations, with the intention of clarifying the potential impact of Y chromosome microdeletions on IRSA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control and association study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Departments of gynecology and obstetrics and university-based research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male partners of 148 couples with at least three spontaneous pregnancy losses of unknown etiology, and 148 fertile men.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multiplex polymerase chain reactions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Azoospermia factor (AZF) regions were tested for Y chromosome microdeletions according to European Academy of Andrology/European Molecular Genetics Quality Network guidelines. The PubMed database was searched to retrieve articles linking Y chromosome microdeletions and susceptibility to IRSA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the IRSA or control men had microdeletions in the AZFa, AZFb, or AZFc regions. A total of nine previous studies examined the relationship between Y chromosome microdeletions and IRSA, yielding contradictory results, which we discuss in detail.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of our comparisons, it is unlikely that Y chromosome microdeletions contribute to IRSA and are therefore currently not recommended for the routine evaluation of IRSA couples.
authors: Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Pereza
authors: Ksenija
authors: K
authors: Črnjar
authors: Alena
authors: A
authors: Buretić-Tomljanović
authors: Marija
authors: M
authors: Volk
authors: Miljenko
authors: M
authors: Kapović
authors: Borut
authors: B
authors: Peterlin
authors: Saša
authors: S
authors: Ostojić
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012729:Sex Chromosome Aberrations; D058533:Sex Chromosome Disorders of Sex Development / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D017524:Slovenia / Q000453:epidemiology