Cystic fibrosis is a disease which causes mucus buildup in various organs. Evidence has shown that cystic fibrosis affects multiple systems in the human body, including the reproductive system. Around 97-98% of people with cystic fibrosis who have testicles are infertile due to a missing vas deferens, the tube in the male-assigned reproductive system that carries sperm out of the testes. Additionally, cystic fibrosis can result in the atrophy of male-assigned reproductive organs by causing dehydrated secretions. Diagnosis
Physical examination
A healthcare provider may initially assess size and shape as well as firmness and texture of the testicles. Ultrasonography
Ultrasonography is used to detect testicular volume. Testicular volume measured to be less than 12 mL is a sign of testicular atrophy. In addition, testicular atrophy can be recognized as greater than 50% loss of testicular volume or a post-operative testicle with less than 25% of the volume of the opposite testicle. Lab tests
Assessment of testicular function is also dependent on lab tests. Low testosterone is a potential cause of testicular atrophy, and laboratory values of blood samples can confirm low free or bioavailable testosterone.Due to the high levels of oxidative stress in the semen, there may also be higher levels of sperm DNA fragmentation for people with varicoceles. In some cases, people with testicular damage who do not undergo repair of the varicoceles will have testicular atrophy.
Their contribution to the understanding of this unusual endemic disease of the kidneys was their description of symptoms which were not typical of common chronic nephritis, i.e., incidence only in adults (no children affected), absence of high blood pressure, xanthochromia of palms and soles (Tanchevs sign), early hypochromic anemia, absence of proteinuria, and slow progression of kidney failure.A striking feature of the disease is its very localized occurrence. There are approximately ten small areas where it occurs, all of them more or less rural, but nothing seems to connect those areas other than the occurrence of this illness. Tanchev and colleagues suggested that the condition was sui generis. Their initial tentative hypothesis for its cause was intoxication with heavy metals, because the affected villages were supplied with water coming from nearby Vratsa Mountain, a karst-type mountain.The disease was originally called "Vratsa nephritis," and became known as "Balkan endemic nephropathy" later, after people living in Yugoslavia and Romania were found to be suffering from it as well. But in Bulgaria and in neighbouring countries, the condition is known as "Tanchevs Nephropathy", in homage to Dr. Tanchevs work. See also
Nephropathy
Citrinin
Ochratoxin A

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