Abstract
The Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART) have become a routine infertility treatment. International data suggest the high rates of multiple pregnancies, prematurity, low birth-weight, neonatal morbility/ mortality in ART conceived births. Correlation between ART pregnancy and birth defects is not well established yet.
The aim of this study is to compare neonatal outcomes in ICSI-induced pregnancies vs IVFinduced pregnancies delivered at Rome's Gemelli Hospital.
We studied 322 infants conceived through assisted reproductive technology: 147 ICSI and 175 IVF. All newborns were evaluated for prenatal outcomes (maternal age, pregnancy complications) and neonatal outcomes (gestational age, birthweight, major neonatal diseases, congenital malformations).
32.2% were singletons,54.2% were twins and 14.6% were triplets.
No significant differences were observed in prenatal outcomes, gestational age (35±2 vs 34±3) birthweight (2325±668 vs 2318±759) and major neonatal diseases (34.01% vs 27.42%) compared ICSI/IVF groups. A significant higher rate of malformations in ICSI-group was observed (11,5% vs 5,1% p < 0.03): 7 cases of heart defects(4.7%), one case of SNC defect (anencephaly), three cases of clubfoot, three cases of urinogenital defects and three cases of syndrome(2 Down's syndrome and 1 Larsen 's syndrome).
No differeces we observed in singleton, twins and triplets comparing ICSI/IVF groups.
Our study suggests a significantly increased risk of congenital malformations in ART conceived births. The higher rate adverse neonatal outcomes and malformations in ICSI-group may be due to micromanipulation of gametes or unknown characteristics in the couples who undergo ICSItreatment.
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Zuppa, A., D'Andrea, V., Cardiello, V. et al. 444 Higher Rates of Birth Defects in Newborns After Icsi Pregnancy. Pediatr Res 68 (Suppl 1), 228 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-00444
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-00444