Is there a place for preimplantation genetic diagnosis screening in recurrent miscarriage patients?

Chromosomal abnormalities are one of the factors known to interfere with no rmal embryo development; thus preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for c hromosome anomalies may be a new tool for improving the pregnancy rate in s elected groups of patients. Embryos from three groups of patients (control, aged and recurrent miscarriage patients) were screened by PGD using specif ic DNA probes for chromosomes 13, 16, 18, 21, 22, X and Y. The control and aged groups were included in the PGD study because the women carried sex-li nked genetic disease. The frequencies of chromosome anomalies observed in o lder women (46.3%) and in recurrent miscarriage patients (53%) were signifi cantly higher (P < 0.05) than the frequency in the control group (19.3%). A fter PGD screening and transfer of normal embryos, pregnancies were obtaine d in women who had undergone repeated abortions (approximate 25% pregnancy rate per transfer) but not in older women. On the basis of these data, it s eems that PGD screening of embryos can help some women undergoing repeated abortions, as these techniques allow successful pregnancies to be obtained or, if no pregnancy can be obtained, the results may help the couple to dec ide whether to enter an embryo or gamete donation programme.