Elevated sperm chromosome aneuploidy and apoptosis in patients with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sperm chromosome aneuploidy and semen quality in 24 partners of women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss and to analyze the data in relation to sperm apoptosis data. METHODS: Semen quality parameters and sperm chromosome aneuploidy for chromosomes X, Y, 13, 18, and 21 were evaluated in the recurrent pregnancy loss patients, fertile controls, and a control group of men from the general population. RESULTS: The mean aneuploidy rate in the recurrent pregnancy loss group was 2.77 +/- 0.22, significantly higher (P < .005) than in either the general population (1.48 +/- 0.12) or in fertile (1.19 +/- 0.11) control groups. In the recurrent pregnancy loss patients, the percentage of aneuploid sperm was correlated to the percentage of apoptotic sperm (r = .62, P < .001). Normal morphology was diminished in the patient group, compared with the general population group (P < .01) and the donor group (P < .001). CONCLUSION: These data indicate that some recurrent pregnancy loss patients have a significant increase of sperm chromosome aneuploidy, apoptosis, and abnormal sperm morphology. This study demonstrates a new possible cause of recurrent pregnancy loss. (C) 2003 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.