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Pregnancies resulting from embryos biopsied for preimplantation diagnosis of genetic disease: Biochemical and ultrasonic studies in the first trimester of pregnancy

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics volume 13, pages 254–258 (1996)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose: Our purpose was to investigate early biochemical and ultrasonic measurements of pregnancies resulting from embryos biopsied for preimplantation diagnosis of inherited disease.

Results: Singleton pregnancies following biopsy had lower initial hCG levels [10 or 12 days after oocyte recovery (OR)], which rose steeply to match the controls by 16 days after OR. Twin biopsied pregnancies showed hCG levels lower than those of twin control pregnancies, which rose in parallel with the controls but remained lower for a longer period than the singletons. Progesterone levels showed a wide variation. Ultrasound measurements showed that overall the mean sac diameter and crown-rump length at 28 and 42 days after egg collection were similar in biopsied and control pregnancies.

Conclusions: Pregnancies resulting from biopsied embryos behave similarly to control IVF pregnancies. However, the reduction in cell mass following embryo biopsy occasionally results in reduced levels of circulating serum hCG and smaller ultrasound measurements in early pregnancy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics and Biometry, Galton Laboratory, University College London, 4 Stephenson Way, NW1, 2HE, London, UK

    Joyce C. Harper

  2. PRMS, Hammersmith Hospital, Institute of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Du Cane Road, W12 0NN, London, UK

    Iakovos Soussis, Joyce C. Harper, Elena Kontogianni, Thanos Paraschos, Dina Packham, Alan H. Handyside & Robert M. L. Winston

Authors
  1. Iakovos Soussis
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  2. Joyce C. Harper
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  3. Elena Kontogianni
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  4. Thanos Paraschos
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  5. Dina Packham
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  6. Alan H. Handyside
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  7. Robert M. L. Winston
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Soussis, I., Harper, J.C., Kontogianni, E. et al. Pregnancies resulting from embryos biopsied for preimplantation diagnosis of genetic disease: Biochemical and ultrasonic studies in the first trimester of pregnancy. J Assist Reprod Genet 13, 254–258 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02065946

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02065946

Key words

  • preimplantation diagnosis
  • embryo biopsy
  • in vitro fertilization
  • pregnancies
  • biochemical measurements
  • human chorionic gonadotropin
  • progesterone
  • ultrasound measurements