Increased Occurrence of Disorders of Sex Development, Prematurity and Intrauterine Growth Restriction in Children with Proximal Hypospadias Associated with Undescended Testes

Hypospadias prevalence by severity and associated risk factors: A population-based active surveillance analysis

INTRODUCTION

Hypospadias is one of the most common congenital anomalies. Trends of hypospadias prevalence by severity are not well reported. Most prevalence studies consist of pooled data from different countries or states suffer from low data quality due to inconsistent methodologies, limited variables, and lack of categorization of hypospadias severity.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to examine the prevalence of hypospadias by degrees of severity and associated risk factors using combined data sources from a stable and well-defined population.

STUDY DESIGN

The study population includes infants born with hypospadias to mothers residing in Arkansas from 1997 to 2016. Cases were identified from an active population-based surveillance program of birth defects. Identified hypospadias cases from surveillance data were linked to birth certificate and to a clinical database. These two data sources provide more details on the location of the defect and maternal and infant characteristics. The prevalence and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using total male live births as denominator. Chi-square test was used to assess the association of nominal variables. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratio.

RESULTS

A total 3230 hypospadias cases were identified from 1997 to 2016. The overall prevalence is 83.0 per 10,000 male births. A majority of cases (56.7%) were classified as first degree with the others having second degree (22.8%), third degree (4.7%) or not otherwise specified (15.6%). The highest prevalence of hypospadias was observed among Non-Hispanic whites. Higher prevalence also was observed among mothers in the older age group with no prenatal care in the first trimester and with gestational hypertension or diabetes. Premature or small for gestational age infants tend to have higher prevalence across all levels of severity. The number of hypospadias cases increased over time. After maternal age, race and education were adjusted, higher risk persisted for infants of restricted fetal growth, mothers with gestational hypertension or diabetes and the cohort of 2013-2016.

CONCLUSION

There is an increase of hypospadias cases in Arkansas. Several maternal and infant characteristics associated with higher prevalence for all levels of severity are worth further investigation.

The Role of Maternal and Environmental Factors During Pregnancy on the Risk of Hypospadias Occurrence

Introduction and Objectives

Hypospadias is a congenital disorder in boys in which the urethral meatus is located on the ventral penis. The incidence rate of hypospadias is increasing, however, there is still no literature regarding how significant is the role of maternal and environmental factors to the risk of hypospadias, especially in Indonesia. This study aims to analyze the maternal and environmental factors during pregnancy to the risk of hypospadias.

Materials and Methods

This study was an analytical observational study with a case control design. The subjects were mothers who gave birth to children with hypospadias, compared to normal, who visited the urology, pediatric-surgery, plastic-surgery, and pediatric clinic at Hasan Sadikin General Hospital.

Results

A total of 120 samples (60 cases and 60 control) were included in this study. There were 14 maternal factors, which 5 of them found significantly correlated with hypospadias, including maternal occupation as an industrial worker (P = .003; OR:4.789), pregnancy-enhancing drugs usage (P = .004; OR: 5.783), smoking consumption (P = .034; OR: 2.294), mosquito-repellant usage (P = .0001; OR: 82.600), and preterm birth (P = .013; OR: 2.895). There were 2 environmental factors, and one of them was significant, which was the distance from home to industrial/rice fields/waste areas, approximately 780 m (P = .0001; OR: 6.102). Based on multivariate analysis, we found that maternal occupation, mosquito repellent usage, and the distance from home to industrial area had a strong relationship in predicting hypospadias occurrence.

Conclusion

Several maternal and environmental factors were found significantly correlated to hypospadias occurrence. Among these, mosquito-repellant usage was found to be the most significant factor.

Prenatal exposure to phthalates and male reproductive system development: Results from a Canadian pregnancy cohort study

Our objective was to determine if maternal first trimester urinary phthalate concentrations are associated with reduced penile length (PL) or width (PW) at birth in full term singletons. First trimester phthalate metabolite urinary concentrations were obtained from mothers participating in a Canadian pregnancy cohort study (MIREC). PL and PW were measured shortly after birth in the male offspring. Univariate and multivariable linear regressions were performed to study associations between maternal phthalate exposure and penile measurements, adjusting for confounders. On univariate analysis of 170 mother-infant pairs, PW showed an inverse relationship with the concentration of mono-3-carboxypropyl phthalate (MCPP-p = 0.016), which was not confirmed on multivariable analysis. On multivariable analysis controlling for infant's size and other confounders, no statistically signficant associations between phthalate metabolite concentrations and PL or PW were identified. In this population of Canadian women, there was no strong evidence to suggest an association between maternal first trimester urinary phthalates with PL or PW in term singletons.

Prevalence and surgical management of pubic hypertrophy in hypospadias patients: results from a high-volume surgeon

Introduction:

Pubic hypertrophy, defined as an abnormal and abundant round mass of fatty tissue located over the pubic symphysis, is frequently underestimated in patients with hypospadias. We examined the prevalence of this condition, as well as the outcomes associated with its surgical treatment.

Material and methods:

Within 266 hypospadias patients treated at our clinic, we assessed the prevalence of pubic hypertrophy, and we schematically described the surgical steps of pubic lipectomy. Multivariable logistic regression (MLR) tested for predictors of pubic hypertrophy. Finally, separate MLRs tested for predictors of fistula and any complications after pubic lipectomy.

Results:

Of 266 hypospadias patients, 100 (37.6%) presented pubic hypertrophy and underwent pubic lipectomy. Patients with pubic hypertrophy more frequently had proximal hypospadias (44 vs. 7.8%), disorders of sex development (DSD) (10 vs. 0.6%), cryptorchidism (12 vs. 2.4%), and moderate (30°-60°) or severe (>60°) penile curvature (33 vs. 4.2%). In MLR, the location of urethral meatus (proximal, Odds ratio [OR]: 10.1, p<0.001) was the only significant predictor of pubic hypertrophy. Finally, pubic lipectomy was not associated with increased risk of fistula (OR: 1.12, p=0.7) or any complications (OR: 1.37, 95% CI: 0.64-2.88, p=0.4) after multivariable adjustment.

Conclusions:

One out of three hypospadias patients, referred to our center, presented pubic hypertrophy and received pubic lipectomy. This rate was higher in patients with proximal hypospadias suggesting a correlation between pubic hypertrophy and severity of hypospadias. Noteworthy, pubic lipectomy was not associated with increased risk of fistula or any complications.

Yield of modern genetic evaluation for patients with proximal hypospadias and descended gonads

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Although the pediatric urologic community has embraced a multidisciplinary genetic and endocrine evaluation for newborns with ambiguous genitalia, this approach has been reserved for the most severe cases of undervirilized 46,XY individuals despite growing evidence that genetic differences are found even in patients whose only genitourinary anomaly appears to be proximal hypospadias. Identifying these genetic differences is vital for counseling patients as they move through puberty to parenthood as well as parents on future pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective was to evaluate genetic diagnosis in patients with proximal hypospadias. The authors hypothesized the more sensitive genetic evaluation available in the modern era will reveal a high rate of patients with proximal hypospadias and descended testicles who are found to have a genetic difference, supporting a thorough genetic evaluation in these patients.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective review was performed of all patients who underwent surgical correction for proximal hypospadias at a single institution from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2016. Those with midshaft hypospadias were excluded as were patients whose primary surgery was performed at an outside institution. Patient characteristics, including demographics, clinical presentation, genetic evaluation, and referral to a multidisciplinary difference of sex development (DSD) clinic, were collected. The chi-squared test and t-test were used for analysis.

RESULTS

There were 112 patients with proximal hypospadias who met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 91 had bilaterally descended testicles, whereas 21 had one or more undescended testicles. Thirty-three percent of patients with isolated proximal hypospadias received genetic testing of some kind, with 24% seen in the multidisciplinary DSD clinic. Four patients had an associated genetic syndrome identified, and 5 had a genetic difference of unknown clinical significance. Overall, 10% of patients with proximal hypospadias and descended testicles had an identifiable genetic difference vs 33% with associated cryptorchidism. Of these, one patient with proximal hypospadias and descended testicles had a genetic difference of known clinical significance that was likely to have been missed in the absence of an evaluation by a geneticist.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

There was a high rate of identifiable genetic differences in patients whose only genitourinary abnormality was proximal hypospadias, especially with the 1% risk of a likely missed diagnosis. These findings support the discussion of a genetic evaluation for all patients with proximal hypospadias, regardless of the testicular location.

Occupational exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and other parental risk factors in hypospadias and cryptorchidism development: a case-control study

AIM OF THE STUDY

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous agents that are capable of altering the endocrine system functions, including the regulation of developmental processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between EDC exposure and other parental factors in the etiology of hypospadias and cryptorchidism.

METHODS

A case-control study was conducted. Cases (n = 210) were infants aged between 6 months and 14 years diagnosed with hypospadias or cryptorchidism who attended the authors' hospital over a period of 18 months, and controls (n = 210) were infants within the same range of age and without any urological disorders who attended the outpatient clinic of the same hospital during the same time period. Their selection was independent of exposures. Data on parental occupational exposure to EDCs and other sociodemographic variables were collected through face-to-face interviews and systematically for both cases and controls. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were estimated to control for confounding with their 95% confidence interval (CI) by means of logistic regressions. Specifically, three final models of a dichotomous outcome were constructed: one for cryptorchidism, one for hypospadias, and the third considering both malformations together. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to assess the goodness of fit of the models. Their discriminatory accuracy (DA) was ascertained by estimating their areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves area under the curve (AUC) along with their 95% CI.

RESULTS

Associations were found between advanced maternal age (OR adjusted = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.14-2.92), mother's consumption of anti-abortives (OR = 5.40; 95% CI: 1.40-38.5) and other drugs (OR = 2.02; 95% CI: 1.31-3.16) during pregnancy, maternal and paternal occupational exposure to EDCs (OR = 4.08; 95% CI: 2.03-8.96 and OR = 3.90; 95% CI: 2.41-6.48, respectively), fathers smoking (OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.33-2.99), and fathers with urological disorders (OR = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.15-4.90). Maternal and paternal high educational level could be protective of cryptorchidism (OR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.28-0.76 and OR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.42-0.93, respectively). The DA of the models for the whole sample (AUC = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.70-0.79) for cryptorchidism (AUC = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.71-0.82) and for hypospadias (AUC = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.69-0.81) was moderately high.

CONCLUSIONS

Advanced age, some parental occupational exposure to EDCs, some drug consumption, smoking, and the father's history of urological disorders may increase risk and predict the developments of these malformations. Studies with higher samples sizes are needed to assess associations between individual EDC occupational exposures and drugs and these malformations.

Frequency of Ambiguous Genitalia in 14,177 Newborns in Turkey

CONTEXT

Limited data are available on the exact incidence of disorders of sex development (DSD) with genital ambiguity at birth.

OBJECTIVE

To determine frequency of ambiguous genitalia in newborns.

DESIGN

Prospective multicenter study.

SETTING

Three tertiary care hospitals.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

All 14,177 babies born during the study period were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

All newborns were examined at birth; data on weeks of gestation, birth weight, and length were collected. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Quigley and Prader scales were used for phenotypic grading. Clinical and genetic investigations were performed.

RESULTS

Eighteen babies with ambiguous genitalia were found among 14,177 newborns (1.3/1000). Fifteen newborns had 46,XY DSD, one had 46,XX congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and one had 45,X/46,XY mixed gonadal dysgenesis. Karyotype analysis was not done in one baby who died in the neonatal period. The ratio of prematurity was higher in the DSD group (44% vs 11%; P < 0.001) and the ratio of small for gestational age was also higher in the DSD group (22% vs 5%; P = 0.007). Eight babies with DSD had mothers who had additional medical conditions, such as preeclampsia, depression, insulin resistance, and gestational diabetes mellitus.

CONCLUSION

The frequency of ambiguous genitalia was higher than in previous studies, but, as with any experiment, the finding should be met with caution because this study was conducted in tertiary care hospitals. In addition, lower birth weight in the DSD group supports the hypothesis that early placental dysfunction might be important in the etiology of male genital anomalies.

Surgical Management of Undescended Testis - Timetable and Outcome: A Debate

Around 1.4-3.8% of boys in the Western world are operated because of cryptorchidism. This means that orchidopexy remains one of the most common surgical procedures performed in boys. As a consequence, several consensus reports, guidelines, and reviews dealing with the management of cryptorchidism have been published recently. Based on our research and 30 years' experience with the management of cryptorchidism, the intention of the present publication is to advise on the surgical management and comment on the expected outcome, especially with focus on the controversies related to guidelines and reviews. Except for late referral and waiting lists, which may be practical problems, there is no reason to postpone orchidopexy for nonsyndromic congenital cryptorchid testes beyond 6 months. There is good evidence that such strategy improves the fertility potential and decreases the risk of testicular cancer. In cases with genuine gonadotropin insufficiency, early surgical correction is not enough and adjuvant LH-RH treatment should be implemented to improve the fertility potential. Cryopreservation may be an option in case of treatment failure of adjuvant LH-RH. A prerequisite for such management includes serum hormone assessment and evaluation of testicular biopsies at orchidopexy. Ascended testes contribute to 20-60% of operative cases and should be treated when diagnosed.

Shorter anogenital and anoscrotal distances correlate with the severity of hypospadias: A prospective study

INTRODUCTION

Anogenital distance (AGD) is a recognised marker of in utero androgen action.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between severity of hypospadias and AGD.

STUDY DESIGN

Boys undergoing hypospadias repair in a single tertiary centre between May 2012 and February 16 were included in the study. Anogenital distance was measured from the centre of the anus to the base of the penis, and anoscrotal distance (ASD) from the centre of the anus to the junction between the smooth perineal skin and scrotal skin. Trained paediatric urologists made all measurements using digital callipers.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine boys with hypospadias and 31 age-matched controls undergoing circumcision (median age 1.37 years, range 1.01-1.96) had AGD and ASD measured under anaesthetic. The patients were divided into two groups, according to hypospadias severity: group 1 - distal penile/subcoronal/glandular (n = 40); and group 2 - perineal/penoscrotal/midshaft (n = 19). The median AGD for controls was 74.0 mm (range 53.2-87.8) and for hypospadias it was 72.3 mm (range 50.7-90.0) (P = 0.816). The median ASD for controls was 42.3 mm (range 31.0-56.1) and for hypospadias it was 39.4 mm (range 20.7-77.0) (P = 0.224). Considering severity of hypospadias, the median AGD for group 1 and group 2 was 73.7 mm (range 50.7-90.0) and 63.3 mm (range 53.6-77.0), respectively (P < 0.001). The median ASD was also higher in group 1, at 41.3 mm (range 20.7-65.0), compared to 35.2 mm (range 23.5-77.0) in group 2 (P = 0.119) (Summary Fig.).

DISCUSSION

This study showed that more severe forms of hypospadias are associated with shorter AGD and ASD. These findings agree with two previous studies that identified reduced AGD in boys with hypospadias. However, these studies did not investigate an association with severity of hypospadias. As hypospadias is multifactorial, only a small proportion of cases are thought to be associated with impaired in utero androgen exposure. The shorter AGD in boys with severe hypospadias compared with mild hypospadias would indicate that AGD is a marker of the severity of androgen production. This may also suggest that less severe forms of hypospadias have a different aetiology involving a later stage of development, and that they are not the result of reduced androgen exposure in the male programming window between the 8-14 weeks gestation.

CONCLUSION

This study identified that boys with more severe hypospadias are more likely to have a shorter AGD and ASD than boys with mild hypospadias. This may indicate that there is a more profound impairment of in utero androgen action in severe hypospadias.

Intrauterine growth restriction and hypospadias: is there a connection?

Hypospadias is one of the most common congenital malformations of the genitourinary tract in males. It is an incomplete fusion of urethral folds early in fetal development and may be associated with other malformations of the genital tract. The etiology is poorly understood and may be hormonal, genetic, or environmental, but most often is idiopathic or multifactorial. Among many possible risk factors identified, of particular importance is low birth weight, which is defined in various ways in the literature. No mechanism has been identified for the association of low birth weight and hypospadias, but some authors propose placental insufficiency as a common inciting factor. Currently, there is no standardized approach for evaluating children with hypospadias in the setting of intrauterine growth restriction. We reviewed the available published literature on the association of hypospadias and growth restriction to determine whether it should be considered a separate entity within the category of disorders of sexual differentiation.

Genetic and environmental origins of hypospadias

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this study was to review and comment on recent original presentations dealing with genetic and environmental factors in the cause of hypospadias.

RECENT FINDINGS

The heritability is definitely high and having an affected family member is the highest identified risk factor so far. Many candidate genes and polymorphisms have been suggested for hypospadias. Some associations with hypospadias were found, and many of these were replicated inconsistently as would be expected in a complex disorder affected by both genes and environment. The consistent association of hypospadias with low birth weight, maternal hypertension, and preeclampsia suggests that placental insufficiency is a major risk factor. Maternal exposure to chemical pollutants or endocrine disruptors in high concentrations related to selected occupations or geographic areas may be additional risk factors for hypospadias, especially in genetically predisposed individuals. So far, however, no environmental chemical pollutants or endocrine disruptor with a general common impact on the risk for hypospadias in most societies has been demonstrated.

SUMMARY

A major point that should be considered regarding the action of environmental toxicants in inducing hypospadias is the cumulative effects of multiple low-dose exposures. Furthermore, interactions between genetic and environmental factors may help to explain nonreplication in genetic studies of hypospadias.

[How and when to evaluate hypospadias?]

Hypospadias is a frequent congenital malformation, which severity is connected to the spongiosum divergence. Biological and anatomical explorations are necessary, before the recourse to the surgeon, in posterior hypospadias, familial hypospadias, but also in any type of hypospadias associated with cryptorchidism, bifid scrotum, micropenis less than 20mm (full-term newborn), or any other anomaly (skeletal, renal, cardiac…). The "mini-puberty", occurring in the first 4-6 months of life, is a period of intense gonadotropic activity in male newborns. It allows an easy investigation of the testicular function in boys with hypospadias. Hormonal evaluation (testosterone, AMH) should be done the first day of life. Let us remind that a newborn with "hypospadias" and bilateral cryptorchidism must be considered, until proved otherwise, as a girl with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.