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Psychomotor development of children born after preimplantation genetic diagnosis and parental stress evaluation

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Abstract

Background

The increasing number of children conceived following preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) necessitates the evaluation of their motor and cognitive development. The primary study objective was to evaluate the physical, developmental, and neurological outcome of children born after PGD in Greece. In addition, the secondary study objective was to compare the stress levels regarding parental roles between parents of PGD children and those of naturally conceived children.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was applied. The study population consisted of 31 children (aged 2 months to 7.5 years) born after PGD analysis and their parents. The developmental evaluation of children included a detailed physical evaluation and cognitive assessment with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. The parent stress index was applied to evaluate comparative parental stress levels between those parents of PGD children and those of naturally conceived healthy children.

Results

High rates of caesarean deliveries, increased incidence of prematurity, multiples and low-birth weight were observed among the 31 PGD children. Overall, 24 of the 31 PGD children had cognitive skills within normal range [general developmental quotient (GDQ): 86–115], while 6 children had lower levels of cognitive skills (GDQ<85). With regard to parental stress, PGD parents reported lower levels of parenting stress as compared to parents of naturally conceived children (P<0.01).

Conclusions

The enhanced frequency of poor cognitive and motor skills as well as low parental stress necessitates early detection and intervention for developmental delays among PGD children.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Developmental Assessment Unit, Second Department of Pediatrics, “P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece

    Loretta Thomaidis, Elena Critselis, Hera Drandakis, Stelios Mantoudis & Dimitrios Kafetzis

  2. Department of Medical Genetics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece

    Sophia Kitsiou-Tzeli, Vassiliki Touliatou, Eleni Leze, Aspasia Destouni, Joanne Traeger-Synodinos & Emmanouel Kanavakis

  3. Developmental Pediatrics, Developmental Assessment Unit, Second University Department of Pediatrics, “P. & A. Kyriakou”, Children’s Hospital, Livadias and Thivon Streets, Athens, 11527, Greece

    Loretta Thomaidis

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  1. Loretta Thomaidis
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Correspondence to Loretta Thomaidis.

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Thomaidis, L., Kitsiou-Tzeli, S., Critselis, E. et al. Psychomotor development of children born after preimplantation genetic diagnosis and parental stress evaluation. World J Pediatr 8, 309–316 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-012-0374-0

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