A case with balanced chromosome rearrangement involving chromosomes 9, 14,and 13 in a woman with recurrent abortion

A phenotypically normal couple was referred for cytogenetic evaluation due to three consecutive first-trimester spontaneous abortions. Chromosomal ana lysis from peripheral blood was performed according to standard cytogenetic methods using G-banding technique. The husband's karyotype was normal. The wife's karyotype showed a balanced complex chromosome rearrangement (CCR) involving chromosomes 9,14, and 13. There were three breakpoints: 9p21.2, 1 4q21, and 13q12.2. The karyotype was designated as 46, XX, t (9;14;13)(p21. 2;q21; q12.2). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis with chro mosome-specific libraries of chromosomes 9,14, and 13 was performed to conf irm this rare chromosome rearrangement. The result of FISH coincided with t hat obtained by standard cytogenetic techniques.