ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 19 (UPI) -- A University of Michigan doctor says a sperm donor in the state has passed on a rare disease related to white cells to five children born to four couples.
Children with the genetic disease called congenital neutropenia lack a type of white blood cell a neutrophil, reports The New York Times, quoting the doctor at the university. Without medication, the children are highly vulnerable to infections and prone to leukemia, the report said.
Dr. Lawrence A. Boxer said all four couples were clients of the same sperm bank, which says it has since thrown away its remaining samples, the report said. The children were reported as doing well and leading healthy lives.
It is not known if the man knew he carried the disease or how many children have been affected by his sperm. The sperm bank says it has told him he no longer can be a donor, the Times reported.
The findings about the cases were reported Friday in The Journal of Pediatrics. One expert not associated with the finding told the Times sperm donors are routinely tested for common genetic diseases but not for such rare diseases.
