In vitro fertilization and childhood retinoblastoma.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the frequency of childhood retinoblastoma among children conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF).


METHODS
Using the United Kingdom-based General Practice Research Database (GPRD), we identified all live births, cases of retinoblastoma and IVF procedures occurring between January 1989 and December 2001.


RESULTS
We identified 0 cases of retinoblastoma among 176 children conceived by IVF (Risk = 0/176, one-sided 97.5% CI 0, 0.02) and 24 cases of retinoblastoma diagnosed before age 5 years among 358,094 children not conceived by IVF (6.7 cases per 100,000 births [95% CI 4.5, 10]).


CONCLUSIONS
These data provide some reassurance that children born as a result of IVF are not at markedly increased risk of retinoblastoma.
Bradbury
Brian D
BD
The Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program, Boston University School of Medicine, 11 Muzzey Street, Lexington, MA 02421, USA. bdb2@bu.edu
Jick
Hershel
H
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D019572:Retinal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology