Diagnostic fetal blood sampling for the haemoglobinopathies--10-year experience.
The development of methods for fetal blood sampling in the second trimester of pregnancy offers the possibility of fetal diagnosis for couples at risk for having children with a haemoglobinopathy. We review the evolution of 10 years' experience of fetal blood sampling for 681 patients. The obstetric risk associated with the procedure has fallen from an initial 15% (in the first 87 pregnancies) to about 3%, in parallel with increased experience, improved ultrasound control, identification of the causes of complications and implementation of simple steps to avert them.
D004200:Diseases in Twins; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis*; D005332:Fetoscopy; D006453:Hemoglobinopathies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography