First Successful Conception Induced by a Male Cystinosis Patient

Cystinosis is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease characterized by multi-organ cystine accumulation, leading to renal failure and extra-renal organ dysfunction. Azoospermia of unknown origin is the main cause of infertility in all male cystinosis patients. Although spermatogenesis has shown to be intact at the testicular level in some patients, no male cystinosis patient has been reported yet to have successfully induced conception. We present the first successful conception ever reported, induced by a 27-year-old male renal transplant infantile nephropathic cystinosis patient through percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) followed by intracytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI). After 36 weeks and 6 days of an uncomplicated pregnancy, a dichorial diamniotic (DCDA) twin was born with an appropriate weight for gestational age and in an apparently healthy status. Moreover, we demonstrate that the sperm of epididymal origin in selected male cystinosis patients can be viable for inducing successful conception. Our observation opens a new perspective in life for many male cystinosis patients whom nowadays have become adults, by showing that despite azoospermia fathering a child can be realized. In addition, our findings raise questions about the possibility of sperm cryopreservation at a young age in these patients.