title: Chromosomal abnormalities in patients with oligozoospermia and non-obstructive azoospermia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the frequency and types of chromosomal abnormalities in 204 Ukrainian patients with non-obstructive azoospermia and oligozoospermia and 87 men with normozoospermia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cytogenetic studies were performed on peripheral blood lymphocyte samples of 164 men with oligozoospermia, 40 men with non-obstructive azoospermia and 87 men with normozoospermia attending infertility clinic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 17% of patients with sperm disorders: in 35% of men with azoospermia and in 12.7% of men with oligozoospermia. The frequency of chromosomal abnormalities in patients with sperm disorders was significantly higher, than in patients with normozoospermia (P = 0.0001). An increase in the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities with the decrease of sperm count was observed. Chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 1.1% of patients with normozoospermia, 6.5% of patients with mild oligozoospermia (sperm count 5-15 × 10(6)/ml), 18.4% of patients with severe oligozoospermia (sperm count <5 × 10(6)/ml) and 35% of patients with azoospermia. A significant increase in the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities in patients with severe oligozoospermia was observed when compared to mild oligozoospermia (P = 0.01). A statistically significant association (P = 0.02) of chromosomal abnormalities and sex chromosome abnormalities (P = 0.0001) with azoospermia when compared to oligozoospermia was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results highlight the importance of cytogenetic studies in patients with oligozoospermia (both mild and severe) and non-obstructive azoospermia. The presence of chromosomal abnormalities influences significantly the fertility treatment protocols, as well as provides a definite diagnosis to couples suffering from infertility.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Reproductive Medicine Nadiya, Kyiv, Ukraine. l.pylyp@ivf.com.ua
authors.forename: Larysa Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Pylyp
authors.forename: Lyudmyla O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Spinenko
authors.forename: Natalia V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Verhoglyad
authors.forename: Valery D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Zukin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D012729:Sex Chromosome Aberrations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014455:Ukraine / Q000453:epidemiology; D014997:XYY Karyotype / Q000453:epidemiology