Parental chromosome translocations and fetal loss

The authors report on the incidence of translocations detected among 300 Greek couples referred for cytogenetic investigation because of repeated abortion, stillbirth, and/or the birth of children with multiple congenital anomalies. Translocations were detected in 16 cases, ie, 1 of 19 couples. However, the incidence of the translocations was unevenly distributed. Nine translocations (3.3%, or 1 of 29 couples) were identified among couples with repeated abortions and stillbirths only, whereas 7 translocations (21.2%, or 1 of 5 couples) were detected among couples who, in addition to having had repeated abortions, had also given birth to children with congenital anomalies. This difference is statistically significant.