The presence of trophoblastic cells in intrauterine lavage samples: lack of correlation with maternal and obstetric characteristics.
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.
Cioni
Riccardo
R
Department of Gynecology, Careggi University Hospital, Viale Morgagni 85, 50134 Florence, Italy. rcioni@yahoo.it
Bussani
Cecilia
C
Conti
Elisa
E
Buzzoni
Carlotta
C
Bucciantini
Sandra
S
Mattei
Alberto
A
Scarselli
Gianfranco
G
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*