Research
Array-based comparative genomic hybridization is more informative than conventional karyotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization in the analysis of first-trimester spontaneous abortion
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Shuai Fu Yuan No.1, Dongdan, Beijing 100730, People's Republic of China
2 Department of Molecular Genetics & Cytogenetics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Shuai Fu Yuan No.1, Dongdan, Beijing 100730, People's Republic of China
3 BioChain (Beijing) Science and Technology Inc., No.7A, Yongchang North Rd, Beijing Economic-technological Development Area, Beijing 100176, People's Republic of China
Molecular Cytogenetics 2012, 5:33 doi:10.1186/1755-8166-5-33
Published: 16 July 2012Abstract
Background
Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) is a new technique for detecting submicroscopic deletions and duplications, and can overcome many of the limitations associated with classic cytogenetic analysis. However, its clinical use in spontaneous abortion needs comprehensive evaluation. We used aCGH to investigate chromosomal imbalances in 100 spontaneous abortions and compared the results with G-banding karyotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Inconsistent results were verified by quantitative fluorescence PCR.
Results
Abnormalities were detected in 61 cases. aCGH achieved the highest detection rate (93.4%, 57/61) compared with traditional karyotyping (77%, 47/61) and FISH analysis (68.9%, 42/61). aCGH identified all chromosome abnormalities reported by traditional karyotyping and interphase FISH analysis, with the exception of four triploids. It also detected three additional aneuploidy cases in 37 specimens with ‘normal’ karyotypes, one mosaicism and 10 abnormalities in 14 specimens that failed to grow in vitro.
Conclusions
aCGH analysis circumvents many limitations in traditional karyotyping or FISH. The accuracy and efficiency of aCGH in spontaneous abortions highlights its clinical usefulness for the future. As aborted tissues have the potential to be contaminated with maternal cells, the threshold value of detection in aCGH should be lowered to avoid false negatives.
