Neonatal follow-up of 995 consecutively born children after embryo biopsy for PGD

BACKGROUND: Outcome data on children born after assisted reproduction treatments are important for both patients and health-care providers. The objective of this study was to determine whether embryo biopsy as performed in PGD has an impact on the health of infants up to 2 months of age.

METHODS: A prospective comparative follow-up study of children born after PGD and children born after ICSI by collecting written reports and performing a physical examination at 2 months was performed. Auxological data at birth and physical findings up to 2 months of age were compared for 995 children consecutively live born after embryo biopsy (1994-2009) and for a control group of 1507 children born after ICSI with embryo transfer on Day 5.

RESULTS: No differences regarding mean term, prematurity (term <32 w and <37 w), mean birthweight, very low birthweight (<1500 g), perinatal death, major malformations and neonatal hospitalizations in singletons and multiples born following PGD versus ICSI were observed. Compared with ICSI, fewer multiples born following PGD presented a low birthweight (<2500 g) (P = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS: Embryo biopsy for PGD does not introduce extra risk to the overall medical condition of newborn children. Multiples born following embryo biopsy appear to be at lower risk for low birthweight compared with multiples born following ICSI.