Has the prevalence of congenital abnormalities after intracytoplasmic sperm injection increased? The Leuven data 1994-2000 and a review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Although intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is now accepted as the treatment of choice for severe male infertility, concerns about its safety and the potential risks for the offspring remain. We reviewed the literature with respect to the prevalence of major congenital malformations after the ICSI technique and supplemented these data with the results of a prospective follow-up study performed in our center.


METHODS
From January 1994 till June 2000, 776 ICSI cycles were carried out at the Leuven University Fertility Center. The resulting pregnancies (n = 172) were followed for biochemical and obstetrical parameters, prenatal diagnosis and congenital abnormalities.


RESULTS
A total of 134/172 (78%) ongoing pregnancies resulted in 132 deliveries of 166 live born children. Two terminations of pregnancy were carried out due to the presence of major congenital anomalies, diagnosed at prenatal ultrasound. Prenatal diagnosis was carried out in 55 fetuses. Two de novo chromosomal aberrations were found. Major congenital abnormalities were observed at birth in 9/150 (6.0%) children. The total malformation rate was 6.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of congenital abnormalities in children born after ICSI in our center (6.5%) was comparable to the prevalence of congenital abnormalities after ICSI reported in the literature.
Hindryckx
An
A
Leuven University Fertility Center, UZ Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium.
Peeraer
Karen
K
Debrock
Sophie
S
Legius
Eric
E
de Zegher
Francis
F
Francois
Inge
I
Vanderschueren
Dirk
D
Demyttenaere
Koen
K
Rijkers
Anna
A
D'Hooghe
Thomas
T
D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*