Mikaela Leach1, Robert J Aitken2, Gavin Sacks1,3,4,5. 1. University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 2. Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia. 3. St George Hospital, Kogarah, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 4. Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick, NSW, Australia. 5. IVFAustralia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have described an association between sperm with DNA damage and a history of recurrent miscarriage (RM), although it is not clear whether there is benefit in screening for sperm DNA fragmentation and to what extent DNA fragmentation impacts upon RM. AIMS: To identify what proportion of couples experiencing RM are affected by DNA fragmentation abnormalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, between 2008 and 2013, couples with a history of recurrent miscarriage (≥3 first trimester miscarriages) were investigated comprehensively for known causes (karyotype, uterine, antiphospholipid syndrome, thrombophilia) and also by semen analysis, including DNA fragmentation [sperm chromatin structure analysis (SCSA)]. Statistical analysis was performed on SPSS software with significance taken as P < 0.05. RESULTS: There were 108 couples with a median sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) of 9.50%. Normal levels were found in 70.5% of men (DFI < 15%), 23% had high levels (DFI 15-30%), and 6.5% had very high levels (DFI > 30%). Couples with otherwise unexplained recurrent miscarriage had significantly higher DFI than those with other causes identified on routine screening (P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: In couples experiencing RM, 30% (32/108) of men had sperm with high levels of DNA fragmentation (DFI > 15%). This may be a contributing factor to the clinical syndrome of RM, and future clinical trials of therapies for these couples are warranted.
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have described an association between sperm with DNA damage and a history of recurrent miscarriage (RM), although it is not clear whether there is benefit in screening for sperm DNA fragmentation and to what extent DNA fragmentation impacts upon RM. AIMS: To identify what proportion of couples experiencing RM are affected by DNA fragmentation abnormalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, between 2008 and 2013, couples with a history of recurrent miscarriage (≥3 first trimester miscarriages) were investigated comprehensively for known causes (karyotype, uterine, antiphospholipid syndrome, thrombophilia) and also by semen analysis, including DNA fragmentation [sperm chromatin structure analysis (SCSA)]. Statistical analysis was performed on SPSS software with significance taken as P < 0.05. RESULTS: There were 108 couples with a median sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) of 9.50%. Normal levels were found in 70.5% of men (DFI < 15%), 23% had high levels (DFI 15-30%), and 6.5% had very high levels (DFI > 30%). Couples with otherwise unexplained recurrent miscarriage had significantly higher DFI than those with other causes identified on routine screening (P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: In couples experiencing RM, 30% (32/108) of men had sperm with high levels of DNA fragmentation (DFI > 15%). This may be a contributing factor to the clinical syndrome of RM, and future clinical trials of therapies for these couples are warranted.
Authors: Sheryl T Homa; Anna M Vassiliou; Jesse Stone; Aideen P Killeen; Andrew Dawkins; Jingyi Xie; Farley Gould; Jonathan W A Ramsay Journal: Genes (Basel) Date: 2019-03-19 Impact factor: 4.096
Authors: Kamil Gill; Joanna Jakubik; Aleksandra Rosiak-Gill; Michał Kups; Mariusz Lukaszuk; Maciej Kurpisz; Monika Fraczek; Małgorzata Piasecka Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-06-05 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Kamil Gill; Michal Kups; Patryk Harasny; Tomasz Machalowski; Marta Grabowska; Mariusz Lukaszuk; Marcin Matuszewski; Ewa Duchnik; Monika Fraczek; Maciej Kurpisz; Malgorzata Piasecka Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-02 Impact factor: 3.390