What is it about?
To evaluate reproductive endocrine profile, sperm chromosomal abnormalities, and semen quality in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
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Why is it important?
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide; >200 million people are infected with HCV, with ≥70% of acute infections progressing to chronic active hepatitis. An estimated 27% of cirrhosis and 25% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide occur in HCV-infected people. HCV is a RNA virus belonging to the family Flaviviridae , with a diameter of 40–50 nm. The HCV genome is a single-stranded RNA molecule of 9500 kDa that encodes a precursor polypeptide of ≈3000 amino-acid residues [3].
Perspectives
Chronic HCV infection contributes to the development of hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, impaired semen values and increased sperm chromosomal abnormalities, particularly sex chromosome abnormalities. It would be necessary to include other chromosomes in these studies to define the real effect of chronic hepatitis C on chromosomal abnormalities in sperm. Further studies are needed to better clarify the significance of the results obtained in this study and find the main mechanisms responsible for sperm chromosomal abnormalities in chronic hepatitis C.
Dr Mohammad Reza Safarinejad
University of Medical Sceices
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Evaluation of semen variables, sperm chromosomal abnormalities and reproductive endocrine profile in patients with chronic hepatitis C, BJU International, January 2010, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-410x.2009.08720.x.
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