Prenatal diagnosis
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Comparative Study
A comparison of prenatal versus postnatal karyotyping for the investigation of intrauterine fetal death after the first trimester of pregnancy.
Aneuploidy is an important cause of intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) after the first trimester. Determination of the fetal karyotype of these pregnancies is commonly done in most units from solid tissues. Results from such techniques are disappointing. The aim of this audit was to compare the results of karyotyping IUFD by invasive testing (amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling) and solid tissues (skin biopsy). ⋯ Invasive testing has a much higher success rate of karyotyping in cases of IUFD and should, therefore, be offered to women presenting with this complication irrespective of gestational age.