Chromosomal prenatal diagnosis: study of 936 cases of intrauterine abnormalities after ultrasound assessment.

Nine hundred and thirty-six prenatal chromosomal analyses were performed by four cytogenetic centres after ultrasound diagnosis of fetal abnormalities, amniotic fluid disorders, fetal growth retardation, and fetal or placental abnormalities. During the same period, 6515 fetal karyotypes were analysed because of maternal age. Frequencies of chromosomal aberrations in each case were respectively 4.

[Antenatal diagnosis. 601 chromosome examinations (author's transl)].

601 antenatal chromosome tests were carried out by culturing amniotic liquor. The fetal caryotype was abnormal in 18 cases (3.1 per cent).

Semen analysis in subfertile balanced-translocation carriers.

The spermograms of 19 subfertile translocation carriers were analyzed. Most of these men had moderate oligo-/astheno-/teratospermia. The results were widely spread, and some reached normal values, suggesting that autosomal rearrangement of the karyotype does not lead to severe oligospermia or azoospermia as do sex chromosome aberrations.