Chronic orchitis: a neglected cause of male infertility?

摘要: Infection and inflammation of the male reproductive tract are accepted as important aetiological factors infertility. With regard to their impact on function, orchitis epididymo-orchitis due local or systemic infection well noninfectious particular concern. There is clinical pathological evidence that chronic inflammatory conditions testes can disrupt spermatogenesis irreversibly alter both sperm number quality. In majority patients, however, diagnosis hampered by an asymptomatic course disease unspecific signs. Hence, respective epidemiological data scarce. On other hand, systematic histopathological work-up testicular biopsies from infertile men indicates a high prevalence reactions. A characteristic pattern lesions with focal multifocal, predominantly peritubular lymphocyte infiltration concomitant damage seminiferous tubules seen in various origins. This supports concept induction associated T-cell-mediated autoimmune response, i.e. disruption immune privilege. Moreover, despite patchy distribution lesions, volume score counts for may be significantly reduced. conclusion, reactions testis should not neglected underlying cause co-factor However, definitive still requires biopsy guidelines therapeutic management yet available.