Can trophectoderm morphology act as a predictor for euploidy?

Euploid embryo transfers yield better implantation rates. In Brazil, morphological evaluation is performed to select the best embryos, since genetic analysis is still an expensive procedure. This study aimed to evaluate whether there is an association between trophectoderm morphology and ploidy status.

The study included 113 blastocysts formed in D5/D6 from 58 in vitro fertilization cycles held from January/2016 to May/2017. All patients with indication for PGD/PGS were included in the study. The mean age of the female patients was 37.04±5.65years. Biopsied blastocysts were categorized for morphology. Cells were sent for genetic analysis using the CGH array, SNP array or NGS techniques. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi square test, and statistical significance was assigned to differences with p≤0.05.

Chromosome analysis revealed that 44 (38.9%) blastocysts were euploid. Blastocysts with trophectoderm grades A, B, and C had euploidy rates of 71.43%, 60% and 19.67%, respectively (p≤0.05).

Although the best trophectoderm morphology grades had higher euploidy rates, this indicator alone is not enough to warrant embryo genetic viability.