title: Prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis by amniocentesis before 15 weeks' gestation.
abstract: Three hundred and ten early amniocenteses before 15 weeks' gestation, including one set of triplets and four twins, were performed for prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis. There was a 100% success rate in obtaining amniotic fluid and 99.4% success rate in achieving amniotic cell cultures. The mean time from amniocentesis to cell harvest by the in situ culture method was 11.3 days. A total 13 abnormal fetal karyotypes were diagnosed. The total fetal loss rate (spontaneous abortion, elective termination and late loss) was 4.5%, while miscarriage within two weeks after amniocentesis occurred in three cases (1%). Early amniocentesis combined with in situ cell culture is a safe, rapid and effective technique for early prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gyneology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Chu Ho
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology; D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy