Fetal chromosomal analysis of pregnancies following intracytoplasmic sperm injection with amniotic tissue culture.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of chromosomal anomalies in a complete cohort of ICSI pregnancies. From January 1996 to December 2000, 1500 consecutive patients who had become pregnant after Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) were given prenatal genetic counseling and 98 of them (6.5%) who accepted amniocentesis were studied. Amniocentesis was performed between 14 and 20th weeks of their pregnancy. Amniotic tissue cultures were processed according to Hoehn et al. A minimum of 20 metaphases were examined on each preparation. Both parents were also evaluated with peripheral blood karyotyping. Amniocentesis and karyotyping was performed to evaluate the 142 fetuses from 98 ICSI pregnancies. Karyotypes from peripheral leucocytes of the parents were also evaluated. Chromosomal anomalies were detected from 6 out of the 142 (4.2%) fetuses. The anomalies were as follows, '46,XX/69,XXX/92,XXXX', '46,XY/69,XXY/92,XXYY', '47,XY + 21', '46,XY/47,XY + 7', '47,XXY', and '45,X0'. All except one pregnancy were terminated with the consent of the couples. Fetal tissue cultures were also studied after the termination of the pregnancy in order to confirm prenatal diagnosis. We did not detect abnormal karyotype from the parents of these fetuses. The ratio of chromosomal abnormalities seems to be slightly increased in ICSI pregnancies. Paternal factors due to morphologically abnormal spermatozoa, maternal factors due to increased mother age and more frequently, de novo occurring sex chromosomal abnormalities may be responsible for this outcome.