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Published on: September 7, 2021
Neonatal follow-up of 995 consecutively born children after embryo biopsy for PGD
S Desmyttere1, M De Rycke, C Staessen
1Centre for Medical Genetics, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090, Brussels, Belgium. sonja.desmyttere@uzbrussel.be
Insights
Embryo biopsy for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) does not harm infant health. Children born after PGD showed similar health outcomes to those born after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), with multiples having lower low birthweight risks.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Pediatric Health
- Genetics
Background:
- Assisted reproduction treatments necessitate understanding infant health outcomes.
- Embryo biopsy is a key component of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of embryo biopsy during PGD on infant health up to two months of age.
- To compare health outcomes of infants born after PGD with those born after standard intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Main Methods:
- Prospective comparative follow-up study.
- Involved 995 children born after PGD (embryo biopsy) and 1507 control children born after ICSI.
- Data collected via written reports and physical examinations at two months of age.
Main Results:
- No significant differences observed in term, prematurity, birthweight, very low birthweight, perinatal death, major malformations, or neonatal hospitalizations between PGD and ICSI groups.
- Multiples born after PGD exhibited a significantly lower incidence of low birthweight (<2500 g) compared to ICSI multiples (P = 0.005).
Conclusions:
- Embryo biopsy for PGD does not pose additional risks to the overall medical condition of newborns.
- Infants born following embryo biopsy, particularly multiples, may have a reduced risk of low birthweight compared to those born after ICSI.
Background:
Outcome data on children born after assisted reproduction treatments are important for both patients and health-care providers. The objective of this study was to determine whether embryo biopsy as performed in PGD has an impact on the health of infants up to 2 months of age.
Methods:
A prospective comparative follow-up study of children born after PGD and children born after ICSI by collecting written reports and performing a physical examination at 2 months was performed. Auxological data at birth and physical findings up to 2 months of age were compared for 995 children consecutively live born after embryo biopsy (1994-2009) and for a control group of 1507 children born after ICSI with embryo transfer on Day 5.
Results:
No differences regarding mean term, prematurity (term <32 w and <37 w), mean birthweight, very low birthweight (<1500 g), perinatal death, major malformations and neonatal hospitalizations in singletons and multiples born following PGD versus ICSI were observed. Compared with ICSI, fewer multiples born following PGD presented a low birthweight (<2500 g) (P = 0.005).
Conclusions:
Embryo biopsy for PGD does not introduce extra risk to the overall medical condition of newborn children. Multiples born following embryo biopsy appear to be at lower risk for low birthweight compared with multiples born following ICSI.
