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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

FISH for Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis
Published on: February 23, 2011
Prenatal Genetic Testing for Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome: Considerations, Challenges and Observations (A Real-World
Melissa Connolly1, Louise McClelland1, Pierpaola Tannorella2
1West Midlands Genomics Laboratory, Birmingham, UK.
Prenatal genetic testing for Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is feasible, with a 9.75% detection rate for molecular disturbances. While generally reliable, mosaicism can lead to false negatives, so results should be interpreted cautiously.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Prenatal Diagnostics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Imprinting disorders, including Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), are rarely tested prenatally.
- BWS is linked to specific ultrasound findings like placental mesenchymal dysplasia and omphalocele.
- Genetic testing for BWS is complex due to aberrant DNA methylation and potential mosaicism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the suitability and limitations of prenatal genetic testing for Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.
- To analyze data from a large cohort of prenatal BWS testing cases.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 646 prenatal samples across three European laboratories.
- Utilized methylation-specific assays targeting imprinting centers at 11p15.5.
- Sequenced CDKN1C in a sub-cohort.
Main Results:
- Achieved an overall detection rate of 9.75% for BWS-specific molecular disturbances.
- The spectrum of detected alterations aligns with postnatal BWS cohorts.
- A 4.3% failure rate was observed, primarily in native samples.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal BWS testing is recommended for pregnancies with suggestive ultrasound findings or family history.
- Most tests yield evaluable results, but mosaicism necessitates caution regarding potential false negatives.
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