Familial C/D translocation t(9;13)(9p23.13q21) in a male associated with recurrent abortion

A familial reciprocal translocation, established by R-banding as t(9;13) (9p23;13q21), is described in a phenotypically normal male carrier, whose father is also a balanced carrier and wife had four consecutive spontaneous abortions. The role of translocation in reproductive failure through production of chromosomally unbalanced gametes or by impairment of the spermatogenesis is briefly discussed.