title: Has the prevalence of congenital abnormalities after intracytoplasmic sperm injection increased? The Leuven data 1994-2000 and a review of the literature.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Leuven University Fertility Center, UZ Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hindryckx
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peeraer
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Debrock
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Legius
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Zegher
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Francois
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vanderschueren
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Demyttenaere
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rijkers
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: D'Hooghe
mesh_terms: 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*