Journal of Genetic Medicine  2012;9(1):17-21

doi:10.5734/JGM.2012.9.1.17

Analysis of Parental Decisions Based on Sex Chromosome Abnormalities Detected Prenatally: A Ten-year update (2001-2010).

Gye Hyeong AN 1 ; Kyu Hong CHOI ; Jae Hyug YANG ; Moon Young KIM ; Jung Yeol HAN ; So Yeon PARK ; Bom Yi LEE ; Da Eun LEE ; Hyun Mee RYU

Affiliations

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Keywords

Sex chromosome aberration; Prenatal diagnosis; Genetic counseling

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze parental decisions regarding pregnancies in which the fetus had sex chromosome abnormalities (SCA) over a ten-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected and reviewed records from our hospital for 2001-2010 and a genetic specialist provided-genetic counseling. RESULTS: We diagnosed 130 cases (0.71%) with SCA out of 18,376 prenatal cases from 2001 to 2010. We reviewed the records and the results of all pregnancies. We also included cases (n=84) of apparently normal anatomic fetuses to analyze the factors influencing parental decisions. We excluded 34 cases with an obvious anomaly or a presumably bad outcome and 12 cases that were not followed up. Forty-three couples (51.2%) continued their pregnancies while forty-one (48.8%) terminated them. Of 38 mosaicism cases, 21 (55.3%) were continued. Among the 20 pregnancies assisted by reproductive techniques, 15 (75%) were continued (P=0.02). More pregnancies were continued when genetic counseling was provided (61.9%) compared to cases in which it was not provided (19%) (P=0.01). CONCLUSION: Genetic counseling is important in providing appropriate information to parents. Establishing guidelines and protocols will help both obstetricians and parents to make informed decisions.