Fetal and placenta chromosome constitution in 237 pregnancy losses

The aim of the study was to carry out cytogenetic analyses in pregnancy los ses. Samples of cartilage and placenta tissue were obtained prospectively f rom 237 pregnancy losses of more than 16 weeks of gestation (130 stillbirth s, 97 induced abortions and 10 early neonatal deaths). Cartilage culture wa s performed in 222 samples and placental culture was initiated in 224. The overall culture success rate was 83.5%, 72.3% in stillbirths, 97% in induce d abortions and 100% in early neonatal death. An abnormal karyotype was det ected in 52 cases: 6.9% in stillbirths, 43.6% in induced abortions and 20% in early neonatal deaths. The rate of discrepancy between the prenatal cyto genetic results in amniotic fluid and the post-termination karyotype was 3% . The tissue of choice for cytogenetic analysis was cartilage in induced ab ortions and early neonatal death, and placenta in stillbirth. The majority of cases had a chromosome abnormality: multiple congenital anomalies in 74. 6%, and a single major anomaly in 9.7%. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.