Cystic Fibrosis Manifested as Undescended Testis and Absence of Vas Deferens

Abstract

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal recessive inherited disease in whites. Among whites of European ancestry, approximately 1 in 2000 live births are affected, implying a carrier frequency of 1:25.1 The disease is characterized by chronic lung disease, which usually leads to the patient's death. Furthermore, patients with CF suffer from pancreatic insufficiency and other less common manifestations, such as meconium ileus, hepatobiliary abnormalities, diabetes mellitus, and musculoskeletal problems.1 Almost all males with CF are infertile. Absence of the vas deferens has been reported in 70% to more than 90% of male patients affected by CF.2 Although 4% of full-term male neonates have un-descended testes at birth, 0.8% to 1.0% of 1-year-old boys have cryptorchism and may be subjected to a later surgical intervention.3