Transabdominal chorion villus biopsy: 100 consecutive cases

Area of Science:

• Maternal-fetal Medicine
• Prenatal Diagnostics
• Genetics

Background:

• Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is a key prenatal diagnostic procedure.
• The transabdominal approach offers an alternative route for CVS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transabdominal chorionic villus biopsies.
• To assess the suitability of transabdominal CVS for various genetic analyses.

Main Methods:

• 100 transabdominal chorionic villus biopsies were performed.
• Indications included advanced maternal age, fetal sexing, previous aneuploidy, biochemical, and gene-probe analyses.
• Tissue adequacy for laboratory diagnosis was assessed.

Main Results:

• 98 tissue samples were obtained from 99 fetuses (including twins), with all proving adequate for diagnosis.
• Chromosome mosaicism was detected in 4 cases.
• No miscarriages occurred; one stillbirth and one case of bleeding were noted.

Conclusions:

• The transabdominal chorionic villus biopsy method demonstrates significant promise for prenatal diagnosis.
• The technique is suitable for a range of genetic and fetal assessments.
• Further research into safety and efficacy is warranted.