Advanced Diagnostic Tests Not Needed for Some Miscarriages

A study has found that more than 82% of miscarriages are chromosomally abnormal in women 35 or over, revealing that many second and third miscarriages are likely to be simply the result of chance. Therefore, they do not merit a lengthy and expensive diagnostic workup.

Researchers analyzed the results of karyotyping tests to determine the chromosomal characteristics of cells in 517 tissue samples from miscarriages. Overall, 56% were found to have chromosomal abnormalities, with even higher rates when adjusted for maternal age. The researchers recommend that karyotyping tests be pursued regularly after a second miscarriage, with more advanced diagnostic tests ordered for both parents only when no genetic abnormality is found.

"Many second and third miscarriages are likely to be simply by chance alone,” noted W.Allen Hogge, M.D., professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (PA, USA), who led the study. "Even an extensive workup will fail to find a recognizable cause in up to half of these cases.”




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University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine