Microchimerism after induced or spontaneous abortion.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate fetomaternal microchimerism in women with induced abortion or spontaneous pregnancy loss.


METHODS
Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 76 healthy women who underwent dilation and curettage in the first trimester but had never had an abortion or male delivery before. Samples were collected at three time points: just before, 7 days after, and 30 days after abortion. Y chromosome-specific, nested polymerase chain reaction targeting the sex-determining region of Y (SRY) was used to test DNA extracted from buffy coat cells. DNA was also extracted from the chorion to determine sex. The sensitivity of our assay allowed detection of approximately one male cell in 100,000 female cells.


RESULTS
Thirty-six male and 40 female chorions were obtained. Male DNA was found in 52.8% of women who had a male chorion before abortion, decreasing to 5.6% at 7 days after abortion. At 30 days after abortion, no male DNA was detected. Male DNA was never detected at any point from women with a female chorion.


CONCLUSIONS
Fetal cells in the maternal circulation are undetectable 30 days after induced abortion or spontaneous pregnancy loss. Fetal cells may be harbored in maternal organs.
Sato
Tomoko
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan. tomoko-s@fmu.ac.jp
Fujimori
Keiya
K
Sato
Akira
A
Ohto
Hitoshi
H