Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An unexpected high frequency of trisomic fetuses in 229 pregnancies monitored for advanced maternal age

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Human Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

In 229 pregnancies monitored because of advanced maternal age, 16 (7%) abnormal fetal karyotypes were detected. We found 13 cases of trisomy 21, twice a trisomy 18, and once an additional marker chromosome. The frequency of abnormal fetal karyotypes in different maternal age groups was found to increase from 1:20 at 38–40 years, to 1:16 at 41–43 years, and finally to 1:45 in women of 44–46 years. The overall incidence of chromosomal aberrations and specifically of trisomy 21 is considerably higher than that described in retrospective studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Collman, R. D., Stoller, A.: A Survey of mongoloid births in Victoria, Australia 1942–1957. Amer. J. Publ. Hlth. 52, 813 (1962)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson Smith, M. A.: Prospective data on risk of Down's syndrome in relation to maternal age. Lancet 1976 II, 252

  • Galjaard, H.: A Survey on the European experience with prenatal diagnosis. Cytogenet. Cell genet. (in press 1976)

  • Hook, E. B.: Estimates of maternal age-specific risks of a Down-syndrome birth in women aged 34–41. Lancet 1976 II, 33–34

  • Lindsjö, A.: Down's syndrome in Sweden. An epidemiological study of a three-year material. Acta Paediat. Scand. 63, 571–576 (1974)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Littlefield, J. W., Milunsky, A., Atkins, L.: An overview of prenatal genetic diagnosis. In: Birth Defects (eds) A. G. Motulsky, F. J. G. Ebling), pp. 221–225. Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Milunsky, A., Atkins, L.: Prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders. In: The prevention of genetic disease and mental retardation, pp. 221–263. Philadelphia-London-Toronto: Sauders 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Niermeijer, M. F., Sachs, E. S., Jahodova, M., Tichellaar-Klepper, C., Kleijer, W. J., Galjaard, H.: Prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders. J. Med. Genet. 13, 182–194 (1976)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Stein, Z., Susser, M., Guterman, A. V.: Screeing programme for prevention of Down's syndrome. Lancet 1973 I, 305–309

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Erasmus University, POB 1738, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    E. S. Sachs, M. F. Niermeijer & H. Galjaard

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    M. G. J. Jahoda

Authors
  1. E. S. Sachs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. G. J. Jahoda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. F. Niermeijer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. H. Galjaard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sachs, E.S., Jahoda, M.G.J., Niermeijer, M.F. et al. An unexpected high frequency of trisomic fetuses in 229 pregnancies monitored for advanced maternal age. Hum Genet 36, 43–46 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390434

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390434

Keywords

Search

Navigation