title: Use of cell-free fetal nucleic acids in maternal blood for prenatal diagnosis: the reality of this scenario in Brazil.
abstract: The discovery of cell-free fetal nucleic acids in the plasma of pregnant women has allowed the development of new, noninvasive prenatal diagnostic tests for the determination of fetal gender and Rh. These tests have been implemented in the public health system in several countries of Europe for over five years. The new possibilities for diagnostic use of these technologies are the detection of fetal chromosomal aneuploidies, monogenic fetal disorders, and placental-related disorders, subjects that have been intensively studied by several groups around the world. The aim of this review was to assess the Brazilian research and clinical scenarios regarding the utilization of commercially available tests that use these plasma markers, stressing the advantages, both economic and safety-related, that non-invasive tests have when compared to those currently used in the Brazilian public health system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. renata.romao@usp.br
authors.forename: Renata Moscolini
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Romão
authors.forename: José Eduardo
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: Henrique Burlacchini de
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Rossana Pulcineli Vieira
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Francisco
authors.forename: Antônio Gomes de
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Amorim Filho
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zugaib
mesh_terms: D000782:Aneuploidy; D001938:Brazil; D002474:Cell-Free System; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D012313:RNA / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D009696:Nucleic Acids; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA