[The usefulness of the chorionic villi technic in prenatal diagnosis]

The chorion frondosum technique was performed, after a pilot study, in 33 early pregnancies (1986-1988). The procedure was carried out between the 8th and the 12th week of pregnancy, and the indications were the gravida's age, chromosomal abnormality in parents and in the child previously born in the family, and sex-linked disease. Out of 33 cultures examined after transcervical CF biopsy, 11 were confirmed also by the findings of early amniocentesis. The method of Siloni et al. was applied to chorion frondosum cells, both by direct and indirect cultivation: 28 of the total of 33 cultures were successful, while 5 failed. Three fetuses, one with balanced translocation and two normal ones, were spontaneously aborted in the first two weeks following the procedure. Three fetuses were aborted due to medical indication, two translocation forms of DS with the mother carrier of t 21/21 and one translocation form of Sy. Patau with the mother having mixoploidy 46; XX/45,XX,t(13q;13q). So far nine children of the predicted kariotype and sex have been born and their development is normal. The course of the remaining pregnancies is also normal, except for one with the spontaneous abortion in the 24th week.