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Acceptance of preimplantation genetic diagnosis for β‐thalassemia in Lebanese women with previously affected children
Author(s) -
Farra Chantal,
Nassar Anwar H.,
Usta Ihab M.,
Salameh Pascale,
Souaid Mirna,
Awwad Johnny
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
prenatal diagnosis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.956
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1097-0223
pISSN - 0197-3851
DOI - 10.1002/pd.2067
Subject(s) - medicine , thalassemia , genetic counseling , prenatal diagnosis , pregnancy , preimplantation genetic diagnosis , obstetrics , gynecology , pediatrics , genetic diagnosis , family medicine , fetus , genetics , gene , biology
Objective The aim of the study was to assess the rate of acceptance of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) as an alternative to prenatal diagnosis in Lebanese women with previously affected children with homozygous β‐thalassemia. Methods Women with a previously affected child attending a nongovernmentally funded thalassemia care center between 1 June 2005 and 31 May 2007 were offered a genetic counseling session. This was followed by administering a questionnaire through direct interview. Results All 97 women approached accepted to participate in the study (100% response rate). Sixty eight per cent of women considered PGD a better alternative to prenatal diagnosis. The most important perceived advantage of PGD was the avoidance of termination of an affected pregnancy. Conclusions PGD is an acceptable alternative to conventional prenatal diagnosis in women at risk of conceiving a child affected with β‐thalassemia. This is particularly true in countries of the Middle‐East where therapeutic abortions for fetal indications are prohibited by the law and religion. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.