This is one of a series of news items from abstracts of studies presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine as complied by Dr. David Meldrum, Scientific Director of Reproductive Partners. We appreciate the enormous amount of work it takes to compile and comment on these abstracts.
Based on data from Day 3 embryo biopsies for a limited number of chromosomes it was concluded that preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) did not increase the live birth rate in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). At ASRM 2012 two studies challenge that conclusion based on Day 5 biopsies using comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) for all chromosomes.
In one study, 64 RPL patients had day 5 biopsy and CGH. Ongoing pregnancy was 56% with a 3% miscarriage rate. This is a study showing a very low fetal loss rate with transfer of embryos normal by CGH, implying that Idiopathic Pregnancy Loss is mostly caused by chromosomally abnormal (aneuploid) embryos.
In another study, 697 RPL patients had 23 chromosome PGS. The pregnancy rate was significantly higher with Day 5 biopsy (75%) compared to Day 3 (47%). The miscarriage rate was 5% with Day 5 biopsy. In this larger experience, a high pregnancy rate and low miscarriage rate was observed.
PGS is an excellent choice for any couple having IVF who have had 2 or more fetal losses.