PROSPECTIVE FOLLOW-UP-STUDY OF 423 CHILDREN BORN AFTER INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION

In order to evaluate the safety of the intracytoplasmic sperm injectio n (ICSI) procedure, a prospective follow-up study of 423 children born after ICSI was carried out, The aim of this study was to compile data on karyotypes, congenital malformations, growth parameters and develo pmental milestones, Before starting the infertility treatment, couples were asked to participate in a follow-up study including genetic coun selling and prenatal diagnosis, The follow-up study of the child was b ased on a visit to the paediatrician-geneticist at birth or at 2 month s of age, at 1 year and at 2 years of age when a physical examination for major and minor malformations and a psychomotoric evaluation were done, Between April 1991 and September 1993, 320 pregnancies obtained after ICSI led to the birth of 423 children (222 singletons, 186 twins and 15 triplets), Prenatal diagnosis determined a total of 293 karyot ypes, one of which was abnormal (0.3%), and four mere benign familial structural aberrations, all inherited from the paternal side, A total of 14 (3.3%) major malformations were observed, defined as those causi ng functional impairment or requiring surgical correction, Neurologica l or developmental problems at the age of 2 months were found in 14 ch ildren, four of rr hom were multiples, Compared to most registers of c hildren born after assisted reproduction and to registers of malformat ions in the general population, the figure of 3.3% major malformations is within the expected range, Before drawing any firm conclusion, fur ther careful evaluations of the available data are necessary.