Two-year auxological and medical outcome of singletons born after embryo biopsy applied in preimplantation genetic diagnosis or preimplantation genetic screening.
BACKGROUND
Embryo biopsy is an essential but invasive procedure to perform preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) or preimplantation genetic screening (PGS). The major objective of this study was to determine whether embryo biopsy might cause post-natal growth restriction.


METHODS
We compared growth data and physical findings at birth and 2 years for singletons born either after PGD/PGS (n = 70), ICSI (n = 70) or natural conception (NC) (n = 70). Children were matched for gender, maternal educational level, mother tongue and birth order.


RESULTS
No significant differences were found between the three groups regarding weight, height and head circumference standard deviation scores (SDS) at birth and at age 2 years, although the PGD/PGS children tended to have a lower birthweight compared with the NC children. At 2 years, the mean BMI SDS in PGD/PGS children was significantly lower compared with NC children (P = 0.005). PGD/PGS children were more frequently born after Caesarian section than ICSI children, but had no more congenital malformations, hospital admissions and surgical interventions compared with ICSI and NC children.


CONCLUSIONS
Singleton children at age 2 years born after embryo biopsy applied in PGD/PGS present a similar post-natal linear growth compared with ICSI and NC children. PGD/PGS singletons appear not to be at higher risk for congenital malformations and surgical interventions during the first 2 years of life. To date, there have been no observable detrimental effects of the PGD/PGS procedure on children.
Desmyttere
Sonja
S
Centre for Medical Genetics, UZBrussel, Brussels, Belgium. sonja.desmyttere@uzbrussel.be
De Schepper
Jean
J
Nekkebroeck
Julie
J
De Vos
Anick
A
De Rycke
Martine
M
Staessen
Catherine
C
Liebaers
Inge
I
Bonduelle
Maryse
M
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D001724:Birth Weight; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000473:pathology*; D049628:Body Size; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D019836:Preimplantation Diagnosis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome