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Cell-free fetal DNA in maternal circulation after chorionic villous sampling
Mariarosaria Di Tommaso1, Viola Seravalli, Francesca Salvianti
1Department of Science for Child and Woman's Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. mariarosaria.ditommaso@unifi.it
Prenatal Diagnosis
|May 10, 2013
Summary
Chorionic villous sampling (CVS) does not significantly increase cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) in maternal circulation. This finding suggests CVS does not disrupt the maternal-placental interface, ensuring fetal DNA levels remain stable.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) in maternal circulation is a non-invasive biomarker.
- Chorionic villous sampling (CVS) is an invasive prenatal diagnostic procedure.
- The potential impact of CVS on maternal cffDNA levels is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if chorionic villous sampling (CVS) causes a significant increase in cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) within maternal circulation.
- To investigate the effect of CVS on the maternal-placental interface by analyzing cffDNA concentrations.
- To assess changes in total and fetal cfDNA before and after CVS.
Main Methods:
- Maternal blood samples were collected from 50 pregnant women before and after CVS.
- A methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme digestion method targeting the RASSF1A gene promoter was used to quantify placental-derived cffDNA.
- Student's t-test was employed to compare cfDNA and cffDNA concentrations pre- and post-CVS.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences were observed in total cfDNA concentration (p=0.695), cffDNA concentration (p=0.612), or the percentage of fetal DNA (p=0.835) before and after CVS.
- Subgroup analyses based on fetal sex, maternal age, gestational age, parity, placental position, and fetal trisomy status showed no significant changes in DNA concentrations.
- These results indicate that CVS does not lead to a measurable release of fetal DNA into maternal circulation.
Conclusions:
- Chorionic villous sampling (CVS) does not appear to significantly disrupt the maternal-placental interface.
- The procedure does not cause a significant increase in cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) in maternal plasma.
- These findings support the safety of CVS concerning fetal DNA shedding into maternal circulation.
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