Elevated sperm chromosome aneuploidy and apoptosis in patients with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss.

Abstract

To evaluate sperm chromosome aneuploidy and semen quality in 24 partners of women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss and to analyze the data in relation to sperm apoptosis data. Semen quality parameters and sperm chromosome aneuploidy for chromosomes X, Y, 13, 18, and 21 were evaluated in the recurrent pregnancy loss patients, fertile controls, and a control group of men from the general population. The mean aneuploidy rate in the recurrent pregnancy loss group was 2.77 +/- 0.22, significantly higher (P <.005) than in either the general population (1.48 +/- 0.12) or in fertile (1.19 +/- 0.11) control groups. In the recurrent pregnancy loss patients, the percentage of aneuploid sperm was correlated to the percentage of apoptotic sperm (r =.62, P <.001). Normal morphology was diminished in the patient group, compared with the general population group (P <.01) and the donor group (P <.001). These data indicate that some recurrent pregnancy loss patients have a significant increase of sperm chromosome aneuploidy, apoptosis, and abnormal sperm morphology. This study demonstrates a new possible cause of recurrent pregnancy loss.