title: Fetal DNA in maternal serum: does it persist after pregnancy?
abstract: Fetal DNA and cells present in maternal blood have previously been used for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis. However, some fetal cells can persist in maternal blood after a previous pregnancy. Fetal rhesus status and sex determination have been performed by using amplification by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of fetal DNA sequences present in maternal circulation; no false-positive results related to persistent fetal DNA from a previous pregnancy have been reported. This idea has recently been challenged. An SRY real-time PCR assay was performed on the serum of 67 pregnant women carrying a female fetus but having previously given birth to at least one boy and on the serum of 30 healthy non-pregnant women with a past male pregnancy. In all cases, serum was negative for the SRY gene. These data suggest that fetal DNA from a previous pregnancy cannot be detected in maternal serum, even by using a highly sensitive technique. Therefore, non-invasive prenatal diagnosis by fetal sex determination for women at risk of producing children with X-linked disorders, and fetal RHD genotyping is reliable and secure as previously demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Maternité, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benachi
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steffann
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gautier
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ernault
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olivi
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dumez
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D051876:Sex-Determining Region Y Protein; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C497745:SRY protein, human; D051876:Sex-Determining Region Y Protein; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA