Cell-free fetal nucleic acid in maternal plasma and noninvasive prenatal paternity testing / 中国法医学杂志

In recent years, the cases of prenatal paternity testing gradually increased in forensic practice. The traditional prenatal paternity analysis can be performed only after invasive sampling of chorionic villi or amniotic fluid, which can result in a risk of miscarriage. The existence of circulating cell-free fetal nucleic acid in maternal plasma has brought new opportunities for the noninvasive prenatal paternity testing. In this paper, the research situation and application prospect of circulating cell-free fetal nucleic acid in maternal plasma in prenatal paternity testing are reviewed.

Noninvasive Prenatal Diagnosis Using Cell-free Fetal Nucleic Acids in the Maternal Circulation / 대한주산의학회잡지

Cell-free fetal nucleic acids in the maternal circulation can be broadly divided into fetal DNA and RNA that originate from apoptotic placenta cells. Cell-free fetal nucleic acids can be detected from 4-5 weeks gestation and are undetectable in the maternal circulation after delivery. Therefore, cell-free fetal nucleic acids have been proposed as a potential material for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD), which poses no risk to mother and child. The clinical applications of this technology fall into three categories: first, early sex determination in cases at high risk of X-linked disorders or congenital adrenal hyperplasia requiring follow-up testing or antenatal treatment; second, detection of specific paternally inherited monogenic diseases in families with high genetic risk; and third, routine antenatal care offered to all pregnant women, including prenatal screening/diagnosis of aneuploidy, particularly Down syndrome. Fetal sex determination is already performed in routine clinical care for high-risk individuals in some countries. Many researchers have explored the possibility of cell-free fetal nucleic acids on NIPD of monogenic diseases and aneuploidy. Promising results have been reported from studies using the combination of markers and the application of various experimental methods. Although these technologies can raise ethical, social, and legal concerns, a reliable noninvasive test using cell-free fetal nucleic acids may in future form a part of national antenatal programs for detection of Down syndrome and other common genetic disorders.