Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of fetal nucleated cells and their serial changes in maternal peripheral blood after delivery. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 135 blood samples were investigated by means of fluorescence in situ hybridization by observing cells with Y chromosomes. Polymerase chain reaction amplifying two different Y-specific fragments were also carried out for genomic deoxyribonucleic acid from the same samples. RESULTS: The mean frequency of the Y-positive cells detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization in mothers who gave birth to male children was about 1 in 17,500 1 day after delivery. The frequency of these cells decreased with time, dropping below detectable levels 3 months after delivery. The frequency estimated by polymerase chain reaction experiments was significant and positively correlated with those found by fluorescence in situ hybridization. CONCLUSION: Fetal nucleated cells in maternal peripheral blood decrease in frequency with time after delivery. These cells disappear from maternal circulation 3 months after delivery in most, if not all, mothers. (AM J OBSTET GYNECOL 1994;170:1188-93.)
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