[Chromosomal microarray comparative genome hybridization (arrayCGH) in prenatal settings. Proposal for Hungarian application in clinical practice].

Invasive prenatal testing and conventional G-banding chromosome analysis have been considered to be the gold standard of fetal cytogenetic diagnosis. Standard karyotyping is, however, constrained by the limits of the resolution of using a microscope. The advantage of molecular karyotyping, array based methods is the evaluation of sub-microscopic copy number changes across the whole genome in a single analysis. The application of array comparative genome hybridization has greatly increased the detection of pathogenic chromosomal abnormalities in prenatal settings. Based on available data in the international literature of the last decade, the clinical utility of arrayCGH is the recognition of some 1-2% and 5-7% additional genetical information compared to metaphase karyotype alone in fetuses without ultrasound anomaly and in fetuses with ultrasonographically detected malformations, respectively. Thus arrayCGH improves the prenatal diagnosis of genetic abnormalities mainly in fetuses with structural sonographic findings. In the present paper we review the literature of chromosomal microarray and make a proposal for the application of the method in Hungarian prenatal genetical practice. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(13): 484-493.