Related Experiment Videos
First trimester prenatal diagnosis: amniocentesis.
1Department of Obstetrics, University of British Columbia, BC Women's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.
Seminars in Perinatology
|November 7, 1999
Summary
Early amniocentesis (EA) before 13 weeks showed increased risks like pregnancy loss and deformities compared to midtrimester amniocentesis. Counseling should include these findings, while later EA is under investigation.
Area of Science:
- Perinatology
- Medical Genetics
- Obstetrics
Background:
- First-trimester invasive prenatal procedures, including chorionic villus sampling, were introduced after midtrimester genetic amniocentesis.
- Chorionic villus sampling has disadvantages, prompting a search for alternative first-trimester diagnostic methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of early amniocentesis (EA) as a first-trimester prenatal diagnostic procedure.
- To compare the outcomes of EA with midtrimester amniocentesis.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter randomized trial, the Canadian Early and Midtrimester Amniocentesis Trial, compared EA with midtrimester amniocentesis.
- Data collection focused on pregnancy loss, fetal deformities, culture failure rates, and amniotic fluid leakage.
Main Results:
- The EA group (11w+0 to 12w+6) exhibited a higher total pregnancy loss.
- Significant increases in musculoskeletal foot deformities and culture failure rates were observed in the EA group.
- An increased post-procedure amniotic fluid leakage rate was noted in the EA group compared to midtrimester amniocentesis.
Conclusions:
- Results from EA procedures performed between 11 and 12 weeks gestation necessitate inclusion in pre-procedure counseling.
- Further research is evaluating EA procedures performed later in the first trimester (13w+0 to 14w+6).