Y chromosome microdeletions in infertile men with varicocele

The pathogenic mechanisms by which varicocele disrupt spermatogenesis are n ot clearly understood and it is possible that when varicocele is associated with a severe bilateral testiculopathy, other causes may represent the act ual aetiological factor. Since microdeletions in the Y chromosome long arm (Yq) have become in last years a major cause of male infertility, we perfor m a Yq microdeletion screening in infertile men with varicocele. We selecte d 40 patients with severe oligozoospermia (sperm count < 5 x 10(6)/ml, grou p 1) and 80 with varicocele and mild oligozoospermia (sperm count 10-20 x 1 0(6)/ml, group 2). Deletions of Yq was observed in seven out of 40 patients (17.5%) of group 1, while no deletions were found in patients of group 2, suggesting that the bilateral testicular damage observed in patients of gro up 1 is due to the underlying genetic anomaly, and not to varicocele itself . The finding of a genetic aetiology in infertile men with varicocele sugge sts that in such patients a Yq microdeletion screening should be performed, both for a proper diagnosis and to avoid unnecessary treatments that will probably not improve the sperm count. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Scienc e Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.