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Possible human chimera detected prenatally after in vitro fertilization: a case report
Author(s) -
SimonBouy B.,
Plachot M.,
Mokdad A.,
Lavaud N.,
Muti C.,
Bazin A.,
Vialard F.,
BelaischAllart J.
Publication year - 2003
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.733
Subject(s) - chimera (genetics) , amniocentesis , infertility , in vitro fertilisation , fetus , biology , andrology , zygote , human fertilization , gynecology , medicine , embryo , obstetrics , prenatal diagnosis , pregnancy , anatomy , genetics , embryogenesis , gene
Abstract Background Chimerism is the coexistence of more than one cell line in an individual, due to the fusion of originally separate zygotes. It has been very rarely described in humans. Methods A 36‐year‐old woman who was referred for in vitro fertilization (IVF) for unexplained infertility had three embryos transferred. Results Four weeks and five days after the transfer, ultrasound examination detected a single fetus in the uterus. Ultrasound examination at 17 weeks for metrorrhagia showed severe intrauterine growth retardation. Amniocentesis revealed a mixture of 46,XY and 46,XX clones. Histopathologic examination showed a dysmorphic fetus with female phenotype and severe growth retardation. Conclusions Although demonstration by fingerprinting has not been possible, fusion of two of the three transferred embryos (one male and one female) seems to be the most probable mechanism that could explain both cytogenetic and histopathologic observations. No chimera has yet been described after IVF. It would be interesting to collect any such observations from other IVF centers. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.