AN INCREASED INCIDENCE OF HEMANGIOMAS IN INFANTS BORN FOLLOWING CHORIONIC VILLUS SAMPLING (CVS)

The incidence of haemangiomas was ascertained by questionnaire in infa nts born to 578 consecutive CVS patients and 445 consecutive mid-trime ster amniocentesis patients seen at a single institution between 1 Jan uary 1989 and 31 May 1991. The incidence of 7.4 per cent reported in t he amniocentesis group was comparable to previous estimates of the inc idence of haemangiomas in the general population. Tn contrast, a 21.1 per cent incidence, three-fold higher than that observed in the amnioc entesis group, was observed among CVS-exposed infants (P < 0.001). Thi s increased incidence was largely confined to patients undergoing a tr anscervical procedure. No correlation was observed between the inciden ce of haemangiomas and gestational age at sampling, sample size, numbe r of sampling attempts, or a history of bleeding following the procedu re.