Young syndrome

The diagnosis of Young syndrome is based on the presence of signs and symptoms and the absence of other similar conditions, such as cystic fibrosis and primary ciliary dyskinesia. The diagnosis process may include a physical examination, lab tests, and referrals to specialists.

Individuals with Young syndrome can develop nasal polyps. However, nasal polyps may be seen in individuals with a number of other conditions such as asthma, aspirin sensitivity, allergic fungal sinusitis, cystic fibrosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, and Kartagener syndrome. Other risk factors include age and family history. Nasal polyps tend to be more common in adults. There is also some evidence to suggest that some people have inherited a gene or genes that make them more likely to develop polyps.

Young syndrome is a condition characterized by male infertility, damaged airways in the lungs (bronchiectasis), and inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis). Male infertility in Young syndrome is secondary to obstructive azoospermia, a condition in which sperm are produced but do not mix with the rest of the ejaculatory fluid, due to a physical obstruction in the epididymis (tube through which sperm exit the testis). This results in nonexistent levels of sperm in semen.

Young syndrome is typically diagnosed in middle-aged men who undergo evaluation for infertility. As the signs and symptoms of Young syndrome are similar to cystic fibrosis (CF), part of the diagnosis process may include ruling out CF. Although the exact cause of Young syndrome has not been identified, it is believed to either be related to childhood exposure to mercury or genetic factors. While there is no one treatment for Young syndrome, management involves treatment of sinus and lung infections. Fertility treatment may also be an option, including surgery to remove the obstruction in the epididymis (vasoepididymostomy) or assisted reproduction, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

To find out whether Young syndrome might be the cause of your nasal polyps, we recommend you speak with your healthcare provider. Your health care provider, possibly with the assistance of a number of different specialists like an ENT (ear nose throat doctor), pulmonologist, or geneticist, might be able to determine what might be the cause of your nasal polyps.