[Biopsy of chorionic villi by forceps under ultrasonic control: technic and results]

We describe an original technique for villi sampling using a rigid forceps under ultrasound control. 120 chorion biopsies were performed, the success rate of sampling is 100%, the samples are pure without any maternal contamination in 90% of cases. The fetal loss rate needs further evaluation because the number of continuing pregnancies is still too small to allow enough accurate assessment. No miscarriage was observed among our last 70 patients. At the beginning of our experience we preferred to start our diagnoses only for high genetic risk diseases: haemoglobinopathies, hereditary metabolic diseases, lethal X-linked diseases. We insist on the efficiency and the quickness of this method and on the quality of the samples which makes the diagnosis safer.