CHORIONIC VILLUS SAMPLING AND MATERNO-FETAL TRANSFUSIONS - AN IMMUNOLOGICAL PATHOGENESIS OF VASCULAR DISRUPTIVE SYNDROMES

Experimental materno-embryonic transfusions with serum that is immunol ogically active against blood group antigens cause congenital malforma tions in the rat embryo. In view of the possible increased incidence o f vascular disruptive syndromes after chorionic villus sampling (CVS), we investigated the occurrence of materno-fetal transfusions (MFTs) i n this procedure. In 18 pregnant women experiencing two needle introdu ctions at CVS, we looked immunohistochemically at the presence of haem oglobin A(1)-containing maternal erythrocytes in the fetal circulation of the separately collected first and second chorionic villus samples . In 4 of 18 patients (22 per cent), a significant increase of materna l cells was observed in the second sample compared with the first samp le, indicating the occurrence of MFT by CVS. On the rare occasion of m aternal immunization against fetal antigens, a CVS-associated MFT migh t provoke immunological damage to the fetus.