[Azoospermia in patients with kidney diseases taking immunosuppressants long term]

Ten sterile males of reproductive age previously treated with immunodepressants were examined andrologically. Azoospermia in them was treated with zinc sulfate (30-90 mg/day, 2-12 months), which was replaced by clomifen citrate in 6 of them (100 mg/day, 2-6.6 months). The response was recorded only in one male: zinc sulfate administration induced subnormal spermatogenesis improved by clomifen citrate as a result of which the patient became a father. In the rest cases azoospermia did not improve. Testicular biopsy performed in 3 patients detected the absence of cells of spermatogenic epithelium (del Castillo syndrome). The absence of response to stimulating therapy may indicate bad prognosis in azoospermia patients with renal diseases treated with immunodepressants.