BACKGROUND<\/p>\n
The impact of gr\/gr deletions on male fertility is unclear. These partial deletions of the AZFc region of the Y chromosome have been detected more frequently in infertile patients. However, few individual studies have demonstrated a statistically significant association. This study aims to quantify the strength of association between gr\/gr deletions and male infertility, and to explore potential sources of heterogeneity, including ethnicity and geographical location.<\/p>\n
METHODS<\/p>\n
Medline was searched up to 31 December 2009 for full articles investigating the prevalence of gr\/gr deletions in infertile and control men. A pooled odds ratio (OR) was estimated by a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed by the Cochran's Q<\/I> test, and quantified by I<\/I>2<\/sup> statistic.<\/p>\n RESULTS<\/p>\n A total of 18 case–control studies, including 6388 cases and 6011 controls, met our inclusion criteria and showed that gr\/gr deletions were present in 6.86% of cases and 4.69% of controls. The association between gr\/gr deletions and infertility was significant (P<\/I> < 0.001), with a pooled random-effects OR of 1.76 (1.21–2.66) for infertile men versus normozoospermic controls (13 studies). The test for heterogeneity among studies yielded a Q<\/I> test P<\/I> = 0.089 with I<\/I>2<\/sup> value of 37%, indicating moderate heterogeneity. The association between gr\/gr deletions and infertility was dependent on ethnicity and geographic region.<\/p>\n CONCLUSIONS<\/p>\n Our meta-analysis comprising >12 000 men demonstrates that gr\/gr deletions occur more frequently in infertile than control men. The association between gr\/gr deletions and infertility varies according to ethnicity and geographic region, with an association reaching significance among Caucasian men, in Europe and the Western Pacific region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" BACKGROUND The impact of gr\/gr deletions on male fertility is unclear. These partial deletions of the AZFc region of the Y chromosome have been detected more frequently in infertile patients. However, few individual studies have demonstrated a statistically significant association. … Continue reading