Early amniocentesis: experience of 222 consecutive patients, 1987-1988.
Early amniocentesis from 9 to 14 weeks' gestation provides a safe and accurate method of prenatal diagnosis of cytogenetic and biochemical disorders. There was a 100 per cent success rate in culturing the amniotic cells from 222 samples obtained between 9 and 14 weeks' gestation. Follow-up of the patients to delivery revealed an abortion rate of 1.4 per cent. Among the 207 live- and stillborn infants, only one had a congenital abnormality (bilateral talipes equino-varus) and no infant had respiratory distress syndrome or pneumonia. Eleven pregnancies were terminated following the detection of a chromosomal, biochemical, or congenital abnormality (5.0 per cent). However, before the procedure of early amniocentesis becomes routine clinical practice, it requires appraisal by a randomized clinical trial.
Nevin
J
J
Regional Prenatal Diagnostic Laboratory, Belfast City Hospital, Northern Ireland, U.K.
Nevin
N C
NC
Dornan
J C
JC
Sim
D
D
Armstrong
M J
MJ
D000649:Amniocentesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis