Preimplantation genetic diagnosis for an insertional translocation carrier.
BACKGROUND
While preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is well established for carriers of reciprocal terminal translocations, reports on PGD for insertional translocation carriers are lacking. Here, we report on the PGD of an insertional translocation carrier with karyotype 46,XX,ins(14;2)(q21;q31q35). Due to the possibility of crossovers within the inserted region, rather than a single probe, four probes are required for proper embryo selection.


METHODS
Probes were generated for PGD using fluorescence in situ hybridization and two PGD cycles.


RESULTS
Analysis of 10 embryos revealed four embryos to be normal diploid. Two embryos were consistent with 3:1 segregation of the theoretical quadrivalent and one was consistent with 2:2 or 1:1 segregation. Furthermore, one embryo was mosaic abnormal and one remained without diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
With increased acceptance of PGD, it is likely that more carriers of complex translocations will enter PGD programmes. The present results suggest that a careful genetic work-up of complex translocations is essential for proper embryo selection. While theoretical modelling may predict that quadrivalents will form during the meiosis of insertional translocations, experimental proof for the occurrence of quadrivalents is still lacking and more research on the meiotic process of both female and male insertional translocation carriers is warranted.
Center for Human Genetics and Leuven University Fertility Center, University Hospital Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
C
C
Melotte
S
S
Debrock
T
T
D'Hooghe
J P
JP
Fryns
J R
JR
Vermeesch
D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology; D002883:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D019836:Preimplantation Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D014178:Translocation, Genetic