Coelocentesis: a new technique for early prenatal diagnosis

Area of Science:

• Prenatal Diagnosis
• Fetal Sex Determination
• Early Pregnancy Assessment

Background:

• Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis are established prenatal diagnostic methods.
• These procedures have associated disadvantages and limitations.
• There is a need for alternative early-gestation diagnostic techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of coelocentesis for prenatal diagnosis.
• To assess the success rate of coelomic fluid aspiration in early pregnancy.
• To determine the utility of coelomic fluid for fetal sexing and cytogenetic analysis.

Main Methods:

• Coelomic fluid was aspirated from 100 women undergoing pregnancy termination between 6-12 weeks' gestation.
• Fetal sexing was performed using fluorescence in-situ hybridisation (FISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
• Cytogenetic analysis was attempted on the aspirated coelomic fluid.

Main Results:

• Successful coelomic fluid aspiration was achieved in 96% of cases at 6-10 weeks, decreasing to 42% at 11 weeks and 10% at 12 weeks.
• Fetal sexing was consistently successful using FISH and PCR, with results correlating with CVS and amniocentesis.
• Cytogenetic analysis of coelomic fluid was unsuccessful in all cases.

Conclusions:

• Coelocentesis is a highly successful method for obtaining fetal samples in the first trimester.
• Coelomic fluid is suitable for fetal sex determination in early pregnancy.
• Coelocentesis may serve as a valuable tool for specific prenatal diagnostic applications in the first trimester, complementing existing methods.