[Chronic, nonpathogen-related orchitis]

Chronic non-infectious orchitis was found in 8.1% of fertility-patients, who underwent testicular biopsy because of severe disturbances in spermatogenesis. The histopathological findings were characterized by a membraneous and interstitial orchitis. In these cases, the cause of the disease was unknown; but immunological abnormalities were found suggesting an imbalance of cell-mediated immune responses: all cases of chronic non-infectious orchitis showed a significant T-cell-deficiency.