[Transcervical chorion biopsy--hitherto experiences and results of more than 200 cases]

This is a report on more than 228 chorionic biopsies performed at the Department of Gynaecology of the University of Heidelberg. After having completed the pilot study (about 100 cases before planned termination of pregnancy) with a success rate of 87% in obtaining useful chorionic villi we initiated chorionic biopsy for diagnostic purposes. A cytogenetic result was obtained in 95% of all cases after the villi had been sampled, using the method of transcervical aspiration. In 1% of the cases the obtained tissue could not be used; in another 1% a chromosomal mosaic-like pattern was seen, whereas in 3% of the cases no cytogenetic result was obtained despite the fact that partly the available tissue quantities were quite sufficient. No false sex diagnosis was made in any of the examined cases. In 98% of all instances of sampling of chorionic villi, a sufficient amount of useful chorionic villi tissue was obtained. Vaginal bleeding after chorionic biopsy occurred only in about one-third of the cases within 1-7 days after sampling. In another third of the patients questioned accordingly, no vaginal bleeding was reported following chorionic villi sampling. The remaining patients stated that there had been only short-term haemorrhages after biopsy. 122 of 226 patients have since delivered, 39 are at present in the 16th to 28th week of gestation, 41 beyond the 28th week and the remaining 13 were before the 16th week at the time they were questioned. Abortion or foetal death after chorionic biopsy was seen in four cases only (1.8%). No malformations were seen so far in the delivered infants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)