Successive spontaneous abortions with diverse chromosomal aberrations in human translocation heterozygote

A patient who had 3 first-trimester spontaneous abortions (blighted ova) was found to be carrying a balanced 13/14 Robertsonian translocation. In the 2 cases cytogenetically analyzed, different chromosomal aberration were found (trisomy 16 and supernumerary D elements). Histologic examination of the placentas of all 3 abortions revealed hypovascular or avascular villi, hydropic degeneration, and occasional atypical stromal (Hofbauer-like) cells. In 2 cases the decidua was examined by light microscopy and was diffusely inflamed with a plasmolymphocytic infiltrate. The relation of the maternal translocation to the repeated abortions with chromosome anomalies is discussed.