title: Polar body diagnosis - a step in the right direction?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polar body diagnosis (PBD) is a new diagnostic method for the indirect genetic analysis of oocytes, which is carried out as part of in vitro fertilization. The biopsy of polar bodies is technically demanding and cannot be adopted uncritically in routine practice, in the absence of robust data to support this laboratory procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Selective literature review and analysis of own PBD data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main application of PBD is the detection of chromosomal aneuploidies and maternally inherited translocations in oocytes. The major disadvantage of PBD is that the paternal contribution to the genetic constitution of the developing embryo cannot be evaluated. Moreover, the potential value of polar body biopsy for the diagnosis of monogenetic diseases is limited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The role of PBD in improving of success rates in assisted reproduction requires evaluation in further clinical trials. For maternal translocations, PBD can be used to reduce the risk of miscarriage. Rapid development in the field of molecular diagnostic and biopsy techniques will also influence PBD and will most likely allow wider application of this method in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Gynäkologische Endokrinologie und Reproduktionsmedizin, Zentrum für Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Bonn.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van der Ven
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montag
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van der Ven