title: The presence of trophoblastic cells in intrauterine lavage samples: lack of correlation with maternal and obstetric characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the correlation between maternal, obstetric and sample characteristics and the quality (i.e. yield of trophoblastic cells) of intrauterine lavage (IUL) samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected 202 IUL samples from women scheduled for first trimester termination of pregnancy (TOP). Trophoblastic cells were isolated from IUL samples and used for DNA analysis by a multiplex quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) assay. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed, and a p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The presence of trophoblastic cells in IUL samples was documented in 151/202 cases (74.7%). Blood contamination of IULs was the only characteristic to positively correlate with the presence of trophoblasts (p=0.039; OR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.03-3.82).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The correlation between the presence of contaminating blood and trophoblastic cells would indirectly confirm the hypothesis that IUL might act as a mini-CVS. The high yield rate of trophoblasts irrespective of maternal characteristics and past obstetric history would support the clinical use of this sampling technique, provided that its safety is clearly defined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Careggi University Hospital, Viale Morgagni 85, 50134 Florence, Italy. rcioni@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cioni
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bussani
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Carlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buzzoni
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bucciantini
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mattei
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scarselli
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000166:cytology*