Is There any Effect of Urogenital Cysts on Semen Parameters in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease?

OBJECTIVE: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a systemic disease with cysts in many organs including the urogenital tract. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between urogenital cysts, semen pathologies and infertility in ADPKD.

MATERIAL and METHODS: Male ADPKD patients aged 18-60 with creatinine clearance years higher than 60 ml/min were included. All patients had magnetic resonance imaging of the urinary system and pelvis, scrotal Doppler ultrasonography and sperm analysis. The results were compared with those of a healthy control group.

RESULTS: 27 patients and 17 volunteers were included. Seminal vesicle and prostate cysts were detected in four (15%) and six (22%) patients, respectively. Five of the 23 married patients (21%) had infertility and this rate was higher than in the control group (p=0.044). The ratio of sperms with normal morphology and progressive motility was lower, and the rate of hypospermia, oligozoospermia, azospermia, asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia were higher in the patient group. There was no significant difference between patients with/without urogenital cysts regarding seminal pathologies.

CONCLUSION: Seminal abnormalities and infertility are more frequent in patients with ADPKD. Defects in spermatogenesis and sperm motility may be related to urogenital cysts as well as ciliary pathologies. There is a need for further studies evaluating the role of urogenital cysts in semen pathologies