Fetal aneuploidy diagnosed at celocentesis for early prenatal diagnosis of congenital hemoglobinopathies.

INTRODUCTION: Currently, prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders requires chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis carried out after 11 and 16 weeks of gestation, respectively. Celocentesis is a procedure for prenatal diagnosis that could be used from as early as 7 weeks. The present investigation evaluated the feasibility of performing diagnosis for monogenic diseases using celomic fluid containing cells of fetal origin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Analysis consisted of 489 singleton pregnancies undergoing celocentesis for the prenatal diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies (n = 367) or before surgical termination of pregnancy for social indications (n = 122). Embryo-fetal cells were isolated from celomic fluid using CD71 antibodies or by micromanipulation. Quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction of short tandem repeat sequences of chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X and Y were used to determine the presence of maternal DNA. RESULTS: 357/489 (73%) of celomic fluid samples were contaminated with maternal cells. In two cases, diagnosis was not possible due to the high contamination of celomic fluid. Eighty-seven (23.8%) fetuses were affected by hemoglobinopathies and, in five cases, chromosomal aneuploidies were found, including three cases of trisomy 21, one of trisomy 13 and one of triploidy. In all cases, the diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies and chromosomal abnormalities was confirmed by molecular and traditional cytogenetic analysis after amniocentesis, chorionic villus or placental tissue collection following pregnancy termination. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study demonstrate that embryo-fetal cell selection from celomic fluid allows reliable and early prenatal diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies and can give more information on any fetal aneuploidy following the control of maternal contamination by quantitative fluorescent-PCR.

Identification of embryo-fetal cells in celomic fluid using morphological and short-tandem repeats analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The main problem to wide acceptability of celocentesis as earlier prenatal diagnosis is contamination of the sample by maternal cells. The objective of this study was to investigate the cellular composition of celomic fluid for morphological discrimination between maternal and embryo-fetal cells. METHOD: Celomic fluids were aspired by ultrasound-guided transcervical celocentesis at 7-9 weeks' gestation from singleton pregnancies before surgical termination for psychological reasons. DNA extracted from celomic fluid cells showed the same morphology, and quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was performed to evaluate their fetal or maternal origin. RESULTS: Six different types of non-hematological maternal and four different types of embryo-fetal cells were detected. The most common maternal cells were of epithelial origin. The majority of embryo-fetal cells were roundish with a nucleus located in an eccentric position near the wall. These cells were considered to be erythroblasts, probably derived from the yolk sac that serves as the initial site of erythropoiesis. CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of morphology and DNA analysis makes it possible to select and isolate embryo-fetal cells, even when maternal contamination is high. This development provides the opportunity for the use of celocentesis for early prenatal diagnosis of genetic diseases and application of array comparative genomic hybridization. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Embryo-fetal erythroid cell selection from celomic fluid allows earlier prenatal diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies.

OBJECTIVE: Celocentesis, which involves aspiration of celomic fluid at 7-9 weeks' gestation, can potentially provide early prenatal diagnosis of single-gene disorders. The main barrier to wide acceptability of this technique is contamination of the sample by maternal cells. This problem can be overcome through selection of embryo-fetal erythroid precursors, which are found in celomatic fluid. METHOD: Embryo-fetal erythroid precursors were selected by an anti-CD71 MicroBeads method or by direct micromanipulator pickup of the cells selected on the basis of their morphology. RESULTS: In our series of 302 singleton pregnancies at high risk for hemoglobinopathies, Celocentesis provided a sample of celomic fluid in all cases. In 100 (33.1%) samples, maternal contamination was absent or very low (< 5%), and unambiguous results were obtained without the need for any preliminary procedures. In 160 (53%) cases, the contamination was between 5% and 60%, and selection of embryo-fetal erythroid precursors was successfully achieved by anti-CD71 MicroBeads. In 42 (13.9%) cases, the contamination was > 60%, and selection of embryo-fetal cells was achieved by micromanipulation. In all 302 cases, there was concordance between DNA obtained from celomic fluid samples and fetal or newborn DNA. CONCLUSIONS: Celocentesis can be a reliable procedure for earlier prenatal diagnosis of fetal monogenic diseases.

Feasibility of DNA diagnosis of haemoglobinopathies on coelocentesis.

At 5-12 weeks of gestation the amniotic sac is surrounded by celomic fluid, which contains cells of fetal origin. This fluid can be sampled by celocentesis, which involves the ultrasound-guided insertion of a needle through the vagina. The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of prenatal diagnosis of haemoglobinopathies from the celomic fluid using a specific protocol. Celocentesis was performed at 7-9 weeks gestation in 26 singleton pregnancies at risk for haemoglobinopathies. In 25 cases more than 30 fetal cells were recovered from the celomic fluid and in all these cases molecular analysis for haemoglobinopathies was possible and the results were confirmed by subsequent chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. The results of this study suggest that reliable diagnosis of thalassemia syndromes can be performed from 7 weeks gestation by celocentesis. Further work is necessary to demonstrate the safety of celocentesis before widespread use.