[Andrologic studies in patients with X-chromosome recessive ichthyosis]

In the past there have been several reports of testicular abnormalities (hypogonadism, cryptorchidism and so-called atypical germ cells) in patients with recessive X-linked ichthyosis. Anamnestic interviews, clinical as well as chemical investigations in ten patients (aged 25-52 years) with recessive X-linked ichthyosis have been undertaken in order to examine their endocrine and exocrine testicular function. Normal serum levels of gonadotropins were observed in nine of ten patients, while four of ten men had decreased levels of dehydroepiandrosterone. In addition, in eight of these ten patients spermatological alterations were found: two patients suffered from oligozoospermia, while asthenozzospermia occurred in seven patients and teratozoospermia was registered in three men. Although andrological abnormalities were found in five out of ten patients (cryptorchidism, varicocele), the high incidence of spermatological alterations is remarkable. Further investigations will be necessary to clarify whether steroid sulphatase is responsible for some of these alterations, especially for the pronounced asthenozoospermia.