Cord blood karyotyping: a safe and non-invasive method for postnatal testing of assisted reproductive technology children

Background: To verify the hypothesis that the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities increases in babies conceived by different assisted reproduction procedures. The availability of the umbilical cord blood encouraged us to study this hypothesis via this method

Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive study, umbilical cord blood samples of assisted reproductive technology [ART] children were analyzed with standard cytogenetic techniques [G banding]. Karyotyping was possible in 109 cases

Results: The number of abnormal cases was four [3.7%], among which, three cases [2.8%] were inherited and only 1 case [0.9%] was a de novo translocation. In total, the incidence of de novo chromosomal abnormalities was in the range observed in all live births in the general population [0.7-1%]

Conclusion: No significant difference in the incidence of chromosomal abnormality was found between ART and naturally conceived babies. To date, several studies have examined the medical and developmental outcome of ART children and still have not reached a definite conclusion. Genetic counseling is recommended as an integral part of planning of treatment strategies for couples wishing to undergo ART

Pattern of breastfeeding in infants conceived by assisted reproductive techniques at Royan institute from birth to 6 months in Tehran - Iran

To determine the pattern of breastfeeding in infants who conceived by assisted reproductive techniques [ART]. In a cross-sectional study, 312 infants were selected by the non-random consecutive method from ART infants who referred by Royan institute to Child Health Research Department. Infants were born between Septembers 2007and September 2009 in Tehran. Infant nutrition, mother age, ART techniques, birth growth indexes, beginning time and the kind of nutrition and growth pattern until 6 months were considered. Breastfed infants were 110[35.2%], 46[14.7%] ones were formula fed and 156[50%] were both. The rate of breastfeeding on the first day after birth in neonates with the low birth weight were less than normal birth weight ones .Approximately 36.8% of infants who had normal increase of weight and height till 6 months, began feeding on the first day of life. Mothers' age and ART technique did not affect the beginning time and kind of infants feeding. The most important factor which affects ART infants' nutrition pattern is their birth weight. The beginning time of feeding affects their weight and length increase till 6 months. Based on reproductive techniques, breastfeeding was similar in different methods of ART

Congenital anomalies in infants conceived by assisted reproductive techniques

Many studies show that congenital defects in infants conceived by assisted reproductive techniques [ART] are more than infants of normal conception [NC]. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of congenital anomalies in ART infants from Royan Institute and to compare congenital anomalies between two ART techniques. In a cross-sectional descriptive study, 400 ART infants from Royan Institute who resided in Tehran were selected by non-random, consecutive sampling. Infants were examined twice [until 9 months of age] by a pediatrician. Infants' congenital anomalies were described by each body system or organ and type of ART. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 16 and Fisher's exact test. The frequency of different organ involvement in the two examinations were: 40 [10%] skin, 25 [6.2%] urogenital system, 21 [5.2%] gastrointestinal tract, 13 [3.2%] visual, and 8 [2%] cardiovascular system. Major congenital defects in infants conceived by in vitro fertilization [IVF] and intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI] were hypospadiasis, inguinal hernia, patent ductus arteriosus plus ventricular septal defect [PDA + VSD], developmental dysplasia of the hip, lacrimal duct stenosis during the first year of life, hydronephrosis and urinary reflux over grade III, undescending testis, ureteropelvic junction stenosis, and torticoli. Two-thirds of ART infants had no defects. A total of 7% of IVF and ICSI infants had one of the major abovementioned congenital anomalies. This rate was higher than NC infants [2%-3%]. There was no difference between the ICSI and IVF group

Prelinguistic behavior of infants of assisted reproductive techniques

The aim of this study is assessment of effects of different assisted reproductive techniques [ART] like in vitro fertilization [IVF] and intra cytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI] on prelinguistic behavior of infants conceived by these techniques. In this descriptive, cross sectional study, prelinguistic behavior of 151 full term ART infants of Royan Institute have been assessed in Children's Health and Development Research Center of Tehran from August 2007 until August 2009. Questionnaires were completed by parents at 9 months old. The questionnaire was standard according to Early Language Milestone Scale-2 [ELM-2]. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 16 and using chi-square test. Twenty-two [14.5%] of infants were conceived by IVF and 129 [85.4%] by ICSI. Number of infants with delay in reduplicated babbling in ICSI method was more than in IVF. There was only a significant difference in echolalia delay in the two sexes. Echolalia was delayed more in boys. Delay of reduplicated babbling was more in infants of younger mothers. There was no relation between speech and language defect of parents and infants. This study showed that prelingustic behavior of ART infants are affected by kind of ART method, infant sex, and mother's age at the time of pregnancy

Evaluation of the growth process of infants conceived by assisted reproductive techniques at royan institute from birth to 9 months

Due to recent scientific progress in assisted reproductive techniques [ART], infertile couples can now become fertile. Thus, a number of infants in our country are the results of these costly interventions. This study has been undertaken to evaluate the physical growth process of different methods of ART infants by standard growth charts from birth until nine months of age. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 333 infants conceived through ART [intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI] and in vitro fertilization [IVF]] at Royan Institute. A sequential, non-random sampling method in a period of 22 months was used. Their growth was assessed by measuring infants' weight, height and head circumference, and physical examination. The growth patterns were calculated by recording the values in standard growth charts. The final analysis was done with SPSS version 16 and by using Chi-square test. In comparison with growth charts, the weights of one-third of the infants were less than two standard deviations [SD] at birth and one-fourth had head circumference less than three SD at birth. Low birth weight [LEW] infants were six times more than infants of normal population. From birth to six months of age, growth abnormalities were seen in a substantial number of infants. However, at nine months of age, there was no significant difference observed between infants conceived by different methods of ART [IVF and ICSI]. Multiple births are the most important confounding factor impacting the growth process of ART infants. Multiple pregnancies can lead to low birth weight, height and head circumference, and growth abnormalities up to six months of age. This abnormality improves by increasing age of the infants

Neurodevelopmental status of infants conceived assisted reproductive techniques in Royan institute

There is a large amount of information published about ART infants worldwide but apparently the similar data did not published by Iranian ART centers till now. This study is a comparative study for developmental assessment of these infants. In one case- control study 400 ART ' infants have been compared with 420 NC ' infants. Their developments have been assessed two times with test of Denver II until 9 months old. All of them were citizen of Tehran and assessed in one center. They have been adjusted for duration of pregnancy and delivery result. Chi- Square test and Wilcoxon Singned Ranks test were used for analysis of data. From 400 infants of ART, 31/3% was preterm and 42/8% were multi fetal pregnancy, which were higher than NC. There was not significant difference in development of infants of ART and NC in different methods of ART in two times assessment [without concerning premature and multi fetal pregnancy] [P>0/05]. There was not significant difference between development of term and single fetal pregnancy of ART and NC in first and second time of assessment of development [p values were 0/7 and 0/4 respectively]. We concluded that there is not any difference in development of term and single fetal pregnancy in infants of ART and NC until 9 months old