title: Chromosome  heteromorphisms are more frequent in couples with recurrent abortions.
abstract: Chromosomal  heteromorphism is considered a variant of a normal karyotype, but it is more  frequent in couples with repeated miscarriages. We investigated chromosomal  heteromorphism in couples with repeated miscarriages in comparison with a  control group. A total of 455 couples who applied to our genetic diagnosis  laboratory in Diyarbakir, Turkey, were evaluated for chromosome  heteromorphisms; 221 of these couples (the study group) had recurrent  abortions and 234 of them (the control group) had no history of abortions and  had at least one living child. The patient group of couples with recurrent  abortions were found to have a significantly higher rate of chromosome  heteromorphism (8.4%) in comparison with the control group (4.9%). When the  patients were evaluated according to gender, males had a significantly higher  rate of chromosome heteromorphism (11.3%) than females (5.4%). We conclude  that since couples with recurrent abortion and males have higher rate of  chromosome heteromorphism, cases of heteromorphism should not be disregarded in  the etiological investigation of recurrent abortions. Further research should  be done to investigate the phenotypic effects of chromosome heteromorphism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Harran, Şanlıurfa, Turkey. ehves@mynet.com
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akbaş
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Isi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oral
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Türkyılmaz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalkanlı-Taş
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simşek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balkan
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Sakar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fidanboy
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Alp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Budak
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000235:genetics*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D014421:Turkey