Chromosomal rearrangements as the cause of habitual abortions

Abstract

Introduction Habitual abortion is a spontaneous abortion occurring in three or more successive pregnancies with no intervening pregnancies. Chromosomal aberrations account for approximately 50% of fetal losses prior to 15 weeks. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the role of chromosomal rearrangements in etiology of habitual abortions in couples with a normal karyotype. Method We analyzed the karyotype of placental tissue, taken from spontaneously aborted fetuses from couples with normal karyotype and habitual abortions. The women tested were divided into two groups. In the first group, there were 23 women below 35, and in the second, 13 women above 35 years of age. Tissue samples were obtained from the abortions and processed using standard techniques. All specimens were G-banded using trypsin-Giemsa stain. Sixteen metaphase cells were analyzed for their chromosome constitution in each sample. For statistical analysis, we used ?? test. Results From 36 analyzed cases, there were 17 (47.2%) with an abnormal chromosomal constitution and 19 (58.2%) with a normal chromosomal constitution. Trisomy 16 was detected in 4 cases. Among sex chromosomal aberrations, only monosomy X was found in 3 cases. Two cases of triploidy and two cases of trisomy 8, 18 and 21 were detected. Trisomy 12 and trisomy 13 were found in one case each. In group of women under 35 (I group), the percentage of chromosomally abnormal fetuses was 34.8%, while in the group of women above 35 (II group), that percentage was 69.2, but there was no statistically significant difference between groups I and II (??=3.01< ??(1 and 0.05)=3.841). Conclusion Hereditary base defects are a significant cause of spontaneous abortions in early pregnancy. Detection of chromosomal abnormalities provides the opportunity to plan further treatment of reproduction disorders.