Trisomy 16 and trisomy 16 mosaicism: A review

Stillbirth: we can do better

Stillbirth is far too common, occurring in millions of pregnancies per year globally. The rate of stillbirth (defined as death of a fetus prior to birth at 20 weeks' gestation or more) in the United States is 5.73 per 1000. This is approximately 1 in 175 pregnancies accounting for about 21,000 stillbirths per year. Although rates are much higher in low-income countries, the stillbirth rate in the United States is much higher than most high resource countries. Moreover, there are substantial disparities in stillbirth, with rates twice as high for non-Hispanic Black and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders compared to non-Hispanic Whites. There is considerable opportunity for reduction in stillbirths, even in high resource countries such as the United States. In this article, we review the epidemiology, risk factors, causes, evaluation, medical and emotional management, and prevention of stillbirth. We focus on novel data regarding genetic etiologies, placental assessment, risk stratification, and prevention.

Cell-Free DNA Analysis of Fetal Aneuploidies in Early Pregnancy Loss

Background: Products of conception samples are often collected and analyzed to try to determine the cause of an early pregnancy loss. However, sample collection may not always be possible, and maternal cell contamination and culture failure can affect the analysis. Cell-free DNA-based analysis of a blood sample could be used as an alternative method in early pregnancy loss cases to detect if aneuploidies were present in the fetus. Methods: In this prospective study, blood samples from early pregnancy loss patients were analyzed for the presence of fetal aneuploidies using a modified version of a noninvasive prenatal testing assay for cell-free DNA analysis. Results from cell-free DNA analysis were compared against the gold standard, microarray analysis of products of conception samples. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT04935138. Results: Of the 76 patient samples included in the final study cohort, 11 were excluded from performance calculations. The 65 patient samples included in the final analysis included 49 with an abnormal microarray result and 16 with a normal microarray result. Based on results from these 65 samples, the study found that genome-wide cell-free DNA analysis had a sensitivity of 73.5% with a specificity of 100% for the detection of fetal aneuploidies in early pregnancy loss cases. Conclusions: This prospective study provides further support for the utility of cell-free DNA analysis in detecting fetal aneuploidies in early pregnancy loss cases. This approach could allow for a noninvasive method of investigating the etiology of miscarriages to be made available clinically.

Chorionic Villous Testing Versus Amniocentesis After Abnormal Noninvasive Prenatal Testing

In the setting of a normal first-trimester ultrasound, an amniocentesis may be a better option than chorionic villous sampling for invasive diagnostic testing after a cell-free DNA high risk for trisomy 13, given the high rates of confined placental mosaicism. In unaffected fetuses, other evaluations should be considered depending on the cell-free DNA results, including maternal karyotyping for monosomy X, uniparental disomy testing for chromosomes with imprinted genes, serial growth scans for trisomy 16, and a workup for maternal malignancy for multiple aneuploidies or autosomal monosomy.

Overview of Noninvasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) for the Detection of Fetal Chromosome Abnormalities; Differences in Laboratory Methods and Scope of Testing

Although nearly all noninvasive prenatal testing is currently based on analyzing circulating maternal cell-free DNA, the technical methods usedvary considerably. We review the different methods. Based on validation trials and clinical experience, there are mostly relatively small differences in screening performance for trisomies 21, 18, and 13 in singleton pregnancies. Recent reports show low no-call rates for all methods, diminishing its importance when choosing a laboratory. However, method can be an important consideration for twin pregnancies, screening for sex chromosome abnormalities, microdeletion syndromes, triploidy, molar pregnancies, rare autosomal trisomies, and segmental imbalances, and detecting maternal chromosome abnormalities.

Mosaic trisomy 16 at amniocentesis in a pregnancy associated with positive non-invasive prenatal testing for trisomy 16, placental trisomy 16, intrauterine growth restriction, intrauterine fetal death, cytogenetic discrepancy between cultured amniocytes and uncultured amniocytes, and prenatal progressive decrease of the aneuploid cell line

OBJECTIVE

We present mosaic trisomy 16 at amniocentesis in a pregnancy associated with positive non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for trisomy 16, placental trisomy 16, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), cytogenetic discrepancy between cultured amniocytes and uncultured amniocytes and uncultured amniocytes, and prenatal progressive decrease of the aneuploid cell line.

CASE REPORT

A 26-year-old, primigravid woman underwent amniocentesis at 17 weeks of gestation because of positive NIPT for trisomy 16 at 12 weeks of gestation. Amniocentesis revealed a karyotype of 47,XX,+16 [10]/46,XX[17], and simultaneous array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) analysis on the DNA extracted from uncultured amniocytes revealed the result of arr (16) × 3 [0.43] consistent with 43% mosaicism for trisomy 16. She was referred for genetic counseling at 19 weeks of gestation, and a fetus with IUGR was noted to have a size equivalent to 16 weeks of gestation. At 23 weeks of gestation, the fetus manifested oligohydramnios, fetal cardiomegaly and severe IUGR (fetal size equivalent to 20 weeks of gestation). Repeat amniocentesis revealed a karyotype of 46,XX (20/20 colonies) in cultured amniocytes and mosaic trisomy 16 by aCGH in uncultured amniocytes. aCGH analysis on uncultured amniocytes revealed the result of arr 16p13.3q24.3 × 2.3, consistent with 30% (log2 ratio = 0.2) mosaicism for trisomy 16. Quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) assays on the DNA extracted from parental bloods and uncultured amniocytes excluded uniparental disomy (UPD) 16. The parental karyotypes were normal. IUFD was noted at amniocentesis. The pregnancy was subsequently terminated, and a 288-g female fetus was delivered with no phenotypic abnormalities. The umbilical cord had a karyotype of 46,XX (40/40 cells), and the placenta had a karyotype of 47,XX,+16 (40/40 cells). QF-PCR assays of the placenta confirmed a maternal origin of trisomy 16.

CONCLUSION

Mosaic trisomy 16 at amniocentesis can be associated with positive NIPT for trisomy 16, placental trisomy 16, IUGR, IUFD, cytogenetic discrepancy between cultured amniocytes and uncultured amniocytes, and prenatal progressive decrease of the aneuploid cell line.

Rare autosomal trisomies detected by non-invasive prenatal testing: an overview of current knowledge

Non-invasive prenatal testing has been introduced for the detection of Trisomy 13, 18, and 21. Using genome-wide screening also other "rare" autosomal trisomies (RATs) can be detected with a frequency about half the frequency of the common trisomies in the large population-based studies. Large prospective studies and clear clinical guidelines are lacking to provide adequate counseling and management to those who are confronted with a RAT as a healthcare professional or patient. In this review we reviewed the current knowledge of the most common RATs. We compiled clinical relevant parameters such as incidence, meiotic or mitotic origin, the risk of fetal (mosaic) aneuploidy, clinical manifestations of fetal mosaicism for a RAT, the effect of confined placental mosaicism on placental function and the risk of uniparental disomy (UPD). Finally, we identified gaps in the knowledge on RATs and highlight areas of future research. This overview may serve as a first guide for prenatal management for each of these RATs.

Genetic variation in placental insufficiency: What have we learned over time?

Genetic variation shapes placental development and function, which has long been known to impact fetal growth and pregnancy outcomes such as miscarriage or maternal pre-eclampsia. Early epidemiology studies provided evidence of a strong heritable component to these conditions with both maternal and fetal-placental genetic factors contributing. Subsequently, cytogenetic studies of the placenta and the advent of prenatal diagnosis to detect chromosomal abnormalities provided direct evidence of the importance of spontaneously arising genetic variation in the placenta, such as trisomy and uniparental disomy, drawing inferences that remain relevant to this day. Candidate gene approaches highlighted the role of genetic variation in genes influencing immune interactions at the maternal-fetal interface and angiogenic factors. More recently, the emergence of molecular techniques and in particular high-throughput technologies such as Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) arrays, has facilitated the discovery of copy number variation and study of SNP associations with conditions related to placental insufficiency. This review integrates past and more recent knowledge to provide important insights into the role of placental function on fetal and perinatal health, as well as into the mechanisms leading to genetic variation during development.

Stem Cell-Based Trophoblast Models to Unravel the Genetic Causes of Human Miscarriages

Miscarriage affects approximately 15% of clinically recognized pregnancies, and 1-3% of couples experience pregnancy loss recurrently. Approximately 50-60% of miscarriages result from chromosomal abnormalities, whereas up to 60% of euploid recurrent abortions harbor variants in candidate genes. The growing number of detected genetic variants requires an investigation into their role in adverse pregnancy outcomes. Since placental defects are the main cause of first-trimester miscarriages, the purpose of this review is to provide a survey of state-of-the-art human in vitro trophoblast models that can be used for the functional assessment of specific abnormalities/variants implicated in pregnancy loss. Since 2018, when primary human trophoblast stem cells were first derived, there has been rapid growth in models of trophoblast lineage. It has been found that a proper balance between self-renewal and differentiation in trophoblast progenitors is crucial for the maintenance of pregnancy. Different responses to aneuploidy have been shown in human embryonic and extra-embryonic lineages. Stem cell-based models provide a powerful tool to explore the effect of a specific aneuploidy/variant on the fetus through placental development, which is important, from a clinical point of view, for deciding on the suitability of embryos for transfer after preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy.

Identification of differentially methylated genes in first-trimester placentas with trisomy 16

The presence of an extra chromosome in the embryo karyotype often dramatically affects the fate of pregnancy. Trisomy 16 is the most common aneuploidy in first-trimester miscarriages. The present study identified changes in DNA methylation in chorionic villi of miscarriages with trisomy 16. Ninety-seven differentially methylated sites in 91 genes were identified (false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05 and Δβ > 0.15) using DNA methylation arrays. Most of the differentially methylated genes encoded secreted proteins, signaling peptides, and receptors with disulfide bonds. Subsequent analysis using targeted bisulfite massive parallel sequencing showed hypermethylation of the promoters of specific genes in miscarriages with trisomy 16 but not miscarriages with other aneuploidies. Some of the genes were responsible for the development of the placenta and embryo (GATA3-AS1, TRPV6, SCL13A4, and CALCB) and the formation of the mitotic spindle (ANKRD53). Hypermethylation of GATA3-AS1 was associated with reduced expression of GATA3 protein in chorionic villi of miscarriages with trisomy 16. Aberrant hypermethylation of genes may lead to a decrease in expression, impaired trophoblast differentiation and invasion, mitotic disorders, chromosomal mosaicism and karyotype self-correction via trisomy rescue mechanisms.

Expanding the application of non-invasive prenatal testing in the detection of foetal chromosomal copy number variations

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to assess the detection efficiency and clinical application value of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for foetal copy number variants (CNVs) in clinical samples from 39,002 prospective cases.

METHODS

A total of 39,002 pregnant women who received NIPT by next-generation sequencing (NGS) with a sequencing depth of 6 M reads in our centre from January 2018 to April 2020 were enrolled. Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) was further used to diagnose suspected chromosomal aneuploidies and chromosomal microdeletion/microduplication for consistency assessment.

RESULTS

A total of 473 pregnancies (1.213%) were positive for clinically significant foetal chromosome abnormalities by NIPT. This group comprised 99 trisomy 21 (T21, 0.254%), 30 trisomy 18 (T18, 0.077%), 25 trisomy 13 (T13, 0.064%), 155 sex chromosome aneuploidy (SCA, 0.398%), 69 rare trisomy (0.177%), and 95 microdeletion/microduplication syndrome (MMS, 0.244%) cases. Based on follow-up tests, the positive predictive values (PPVs) for the T21, T18, T13, SCA, rare trisomy, and MMS cases were calculated to be 88.89%, 53.33%, 20.00%, 40.22%, 4.88%, and 49.02%, respectively. In addition, the PPVs of CNVs of < 5 Mb, 5-10 Mb, and > 10 Mb were 54.55%, 38.46%, and 40.00%, respectively. Among the 95 cases with suspected CNVs, 25 were diagnosed as true positive and 26 cases as false positive; follow-up prenatal diagnosis by CMA was not performed for 44 cases. Moreover, among the 25 true positive cases, 10 were pathogenic, 3 were likely pathogenic, and 12 were of uncertain significance.

CONCLUSION

NIPT is not only suitable for screening T21, T18, T13, and SCA but also has potential significance for CNV detection. As combined with ultrasound, extended NIPT is effective for screening MMS. However, NIPT should not be recommended for whole-chromosome aneuploidy screening.

Prenatal diagnosis of mosaic trisomy 16 by amniocentesis in a pregnancy associated with abnormal first-trimester screening result (low PAPP-A and low PlGF), intrauterine growth restriction and a favorable outcome

OBJECTIVE

We present prenatal diagnosis of mosaic trisomy 16 by amniocentesis in a pregnancy associated with an abnormal first-trimester screening result, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and a favorable outcome.

CASE REPORT

A 27-year-old woman underwent amniocentesis at 18 weeks of gestation because of an abnormal first-trimester screening result with maternal serum free β-hCG of 1.474 multiples of the median (MoM), pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) of 0.122 MoM and placental growth factor (PlGF) of 0.101 MoM, and a Down syndrome risk of 1/45. Amniocentesis revealed a karyotype of 47,XY,+16 [9]/46,XY [16] and an abnormal array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) result of arr (16) × 3 [0.54] compatible with 54% mosaicism for trisomy 16 in uncultured amniocytes. At 24 weeks of gestation, repeat amniocentesis revealed a karyotype of 47,XY,+16 [4]/46,XY [16] and an aCGH result of arr 16p13.3q24.3 (96,766-90,567,357) × 2.25 with a log₂ ratio = 0.2 compatible with 20-30% mosaicism for trisomy 16 in uncultured amniocytes. Quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) excluded uniparental disomy (UPD) 16. Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis on uncultured amniocytes revealed 19.4% (12/62 cells) mosaic trisomy 16. Prenatal ultrasound revealed IUGR. At 36 weeks of gestation, a phenotypically normal baby was delivered with a body weight of 1900 g. The cord blood had a karyotype of 46,XY. QF-PCR analysis confirmed biparentally inherited disomy 16 in the cord blood and maternal-origin of trisomy 16 in the placenta. When follow-up at age two months, FISH analysis on 101 buccal mucosal cells and 32 urinary cells revealed no signal of trisomy 16.

CONCLUSION

Mosaic trisomy 16 at amniocentesis can be associated with IUGR and an abnormal first-trimester screening result with low PAPP-A and low PlGF. Mosaic trisomy 16 without UPD 16 at amniocentesis can have a favorable outcome, and the abnormal triosmy 16 cell line may disappear after birth.

Diagnostic testing after positive results on cell free DNA screening: CVS or Amnio?

OBJECTIVE

The positive predictive values of cell free DNA (cfDNA) and rates of confined placental mosaicism (CPM), imprinting and other factors vary by chromosome.

METHODS

We sought to review the literature for each of these features for each chromosome and provide recommendations on chorionic villus sampling (CVS) versus amniocentesis after an abnormal cfDNA result.

RESULTS

For chromosomes with high rates of CPM (trisomy 13, monosomy X and rare autosomal trisomies [RATs]), an amniocentesis should be considered if the first trimester ultrasound is normal. For monosomy X on cfDNA with an unaffected fetus, maternal karyotyping should be considered after normal fetal diagnostic testing. In cfDNA cases with a trisomy involving a chromosome with imprinted genes (6, 7, 11, 14, 15 and 20), CVS should be considered, followed by amniocentesis if abnormal. If the fetus is unaffected, methylation studies should be considered given the risk of uniparental disomy. A third trimester growth ultrasound should be considered for patients with a positive cfDNA screen for a RAT and an unaffected fetus, especially in the case of trisomy 16. For patients with multiple aneuploidy results on cfDNA, a work-up for maternal malignancy should be considered.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians should consider rates of CPM, imprinting, ultrasound findings and maternal factors when considering whether to recommend amniocentesis or CVS after an abnormal cfDNA result.

Lower chromosomal abnormality frequencies in miscarried conceptuses from frozen blastocyst transfers in ART

STUDY QUESTION

Are blastocyst culture and cryopreservation in ART associated with chromosomal abnormalities in miscarried products of conception (POC)?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Frozen blastocyst transfer in women aged 35 years or older and frozen embryo transfer (ET) (including both cleavage-stage embryo and blastocyst) in women aged <35 years are associated with decreased frequencies of embryonic chromosomal abnormalities in miscarried POC.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Blastocyst culture and embryo cryopreservation have been previously associated with favorable ART treatment outcomes and widely applied in clinical practice. However, the association between these embryo manipulation procedures and embryonic chromosomal abnormalities has not been evaluated to the best of our knowledge.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This retrospective study included a total of 720 patients who underwent IVF/ICSI, and the retained POC were obtained. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) of all miscarried conceptuses was performed.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

This study was based on the Clinical Reproductive Medicine Management System/Electronic Medical Record Cohort Database (CCRM/EMRCD) at our center. In total, 720 miscarried POCs were collected from patients undergoing ART (including fresh cleavage-stage ET, fresh blastocyst transfer, frozen cleavage-stage ET and frozen blastocyst transfer), and the incidences and profiles of cytogenetic abnormalities in the miscarried conceptuses were measured via SNP-based CMA.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

The chromosomal abnormality rate in POC varied from 33.7% to 66.7% among the different ET strategies. In the patients aged ≥35 years, frozen blastocyst transfer was significantly associated with a lower incidence of chromosomal aberrations in the POCs (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.171 (95% CI: 0.040-0.738); P = 0.018) than fresh blastocyst transfer. In the patients aged <35 years, frozen ET was significantly associated with a lower incidence of chromosomal aberrations than fresh ET in both cleavage-stage ET cycles and blastocyst transfers cycles (aOR: 0.545 (0.338-0.879), P = 0.013; and aOR: 0.357 (0.175-0.730), P = 0.005, respectively). Trisomy was the most frequent abnormal embryonic karyotype in the different ET strategies, and its frequency significantly differed among strategies (P < 0.05).

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

This study was retrospectively designed, and we cannot draw any definite conclusions from our results regarding the adequate safety of embryo cryopreservation in ongoing pregnancy.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

To our knowledge, this is the first study assessing the associations of ET strategies with the probability of miscarriage associated with embryonic chromosomal abnormalities. However, the underlying mechanism of these associations is unknown; this study may promote research concerning ET strategies and promote comprehensive consultations and recommendations for patients.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.81571409), Science and Technology Research Project of Henan (Grant No. 172102310009) and Medical Science and Technology Research Project of Henan (Grant No. 201701005). The authors declare no competing interests.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.

Confined placental mosaicism and the association with pregnancy outcome and fetal growth: a review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Chromosomal mosaicism can be detected in different stages of early life: in cleavage stage embryos, in blastocysts and biopsied cells from blastocysts during preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A) and later during prenatal testing, as well as after birth in cord blood. Mosaicism at all different stages can be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. There is an onward discussion about whether blastocysts diagnosed as chromosomally mosaic by PGT-A should be considered safe for transfer. An accurate diagnosis of mosaicism remains technically challenging and the fate of abnormal cells within an embryo remains largely unknown. However, if aneuploid cells persist in the extraembryonic tissues, they can give rise to confined placental mosaicism (CPM). Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) uses cell-free (cf) DNA released from the placenta in maternal blood, facilitating the detection of CPM. In literature, conflicting evidence is found about whether CPM is associated with fetal growth restriction (FGR) and/or other pregnancy outcomes. This makes counselling for patients by clinicians challenging and more knowledge is needed for clinical decision and policy making.

OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE

The objective of this review is to evaluate the association between CPM and prenatal growth and adverse pregnancy outcomes. All relevant literature has been reviewed in order to achieve an overview on merged results exploring the relation between CPM and FGR and other adverse pregnancy outcomes.

SEARCH METHODS

The following Medical Subject Headings (MESH) terms and all their synonyms were used: placental, trophoblast, cytotrophoblast, mosaicism, trisomy, fetal growth, birth weight, small for gestational age and fetal development. A search in Embase, PubMed, Medline Ovid, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and Google Scholar databases was conducted. Relevant articles published until 16 July 2020 were critically analyzed and discussed.

OUTCOMES

There were 823 articles found and screened based on their title/abstract. From these, 213 articles were selected and full text versions were obtained for a second selection, after which 70 publications were included and 328 cases (fetuses) were analyzed. For CPM in eight different chromosomes (of the total 14 analyzed), there was sufficient evidence that birth weight was often below the 5th percentile of fetal growth standards. FGR was reported in 71.7% of CPM cases and preterm birth (<37 weeks of delivery) was reported in 31.0% of cases. A high rate of structural fetal anomalies, 24.2%, in cases with CPM was also identified. High levels of mosaicism in CVS and presence of uniparental disomy (UPD) were significantly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS

Based on the literature, the advice to clinicians is to monitor fetal growth intensively from first trimester onwards in case of CPM, especially when chromosome 2, 3, 7, 13, 15, 16 and 22 are involved. In addition to this, it is advised to examine the fetuses thoroughly for structural fetal anomalies and raise awareness of a higher chance of (possibly extreme) premature birth. Despite prematurity in nearly a fifth of cases, the long-term follow-up of CPM life borns seems to be positive. More understanding of the biological mechanisms behind CPM will help in prioritizing embryos for transfer after the detection of mosaicism in embryos through PGT-A.

Chromosomal mosaicism: Origins and clinical implications in preimplantation and prenatal diagnosis

The diagnosis of chromosomal mosaicism in the preimplantation and prenatal stage is fraught with uncertainty and multiple factors need to be considered in order to gauge the likely impact. The clinical effects of chromosomal mosaicism are directly linked to the type of the imbalance (size, gene content, and copy number), the timing of the initial event leading to mosaicism during embryogenesis/fetal development, the distribution of the abnormal cells throughout the various tissues within the body as well as the ratio of normal/abnormal cells within each of those tissues. Additional factors such as assay noise and culture artifacts also have an impact on the significance and management of mosaic cases. Genetic counseling is an important part of educating patients about the likelihood of having a liveborn with a chromosome abnormality and these risks differ according to the time of ascertainment and the tissue where the mosaic cells were initially discovered. Each situation needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis and counseled accordingly. This review will discuss the clinical impact of finding mosaicism through: embryo biopsy, chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis, and noninvasive prenatal testing using cell-free DNA.

Uniparental disomy: Origin, frequency, and clinical significance

Uniparental disomy (UPD) is defined as two copies of a whole chromosome derived from the same parent. There can be multiple mechanisms that lead to UPD; these are reviewed in the context of contemporary views on the mechanism leading to aneuploidy. Recent studies indicate that UPD is rare in an apparently healthy population and also rare in spontaneous abortion tissues. The most common type of UPD is a maternal heterodisomy (both maternal allele sets present). Isodisomy (a duplicated single set of alleles) or segmental loss of heterozygosity is sometimes encountered in SNP-based microarray referrals. Decisions regarding the most appropriate follow-up testing should consider the possibility of consanguinity (that will generally involve multiple regions), an imprinted gene disorder (chromosomes 6, 7, 11, 14, 15, 20), expression of an autosomal recessive disorder, and an occult aneuploid cell line that may be confined to the placenta. Upd(16)mat, per se, does not appear to be associated with an abnormal phenotype. UPD provides an insight into the history of early chromosome segregation error and understanding the rates and fate of these events are of key importance in the provision of fertility management and prenatal healthcare.

Low-level mosaicism for trisomy 16 at amniocentesis in a pregnancy associated with intrauterine growth restriction and a favorable outcome

OBJECTIVE

We present low-level mosaicism for trisomy 16 at amniocentesis in a pregnancy associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and a favorable outcome.

CASE REPORT

A 31-year-old woman underwent amniocentesis at 24 weeks of gestation because of IUGR. Amniocentesis revealed a karyotype of 47,XX,+16 [3]/46,XX [22]. Simultaneous array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) analysis on the DNA extracted from uncultured amniocytes revealed gene dosage increase in chromosome 16 consistent with 28% mosaicism for trisomy 16. Uniparental disomy (UPD) 7 and UPD 11 were excluded. She underwent repeat amniocentesis at 27 weeks of gestation. Repeat amniocentesis revealed a karyotype of 47,XX,+16 [1]/46,XX [24]. Simultaneous aCGH analysis on the DNA extracted from uncultured amniocytes revealed 25%-35% (log₂ ratio = 0.17-0.25) mosaicism for trisomy 16. Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis detected trisomy 16 signals in 28/100 (28%) uncultured amniocytes. Polymorphic DNA marker analysis excluded UPD 16. Level II ultrasound revealed no fetal abnormalities except symmetric IUGR. The pregnancy was continued to 37 weeks of gestation, and a 2306-g phenotypically normal baby was delivered. The cord blood had a karyotype of 46, XX in 50/50 lymphocytes. The umbilical cord had a karyotype of 47,XX,+16 [14]/46,XX [36]. Interphase FISH analysis on buccal mucosal cells and urinary cells at age three days revealed trisomy 16 signals in 3.8% (4/106) buccal mucosal cells and 6.5% (7/107) urinary cells, compared with 1% in the normal control. Polymorphic DNA marker analysis on placenta confirmed trisomy 16 in the placenta and a maternal origin of the extra chromosome 16.

CONCLUSION

Cytogenetic discrepancy between cultured amniocytes and uncultured amniocytes may present in mosaic trisomy 16 at amniocentesis. Low-level mosaicism for trisomy 16 at amniocentesis without maternal UPD 16 can be associated with a favorable outcome despite the presence of IUGR.

Genomic imbalances in the placenta are associated with poor fetal growth

Background

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with increased risks for complications before, during, and after birth, in addition to risk of disease through to adulthood. Although placental insufficiency, failure to supply the fetus with adequate nutrients, underlies most cases of FGR, its causes are diverse and not fully understood. One of the few diagnosable causes of placental insufficiency in ongoing pregnancies is the presence of large chromosomal imbalances such as trisomy confined to the placenta; however, the impact of smaller copy number variants (CNVs) has not yet been adequately addressed. In this study, we confirm the importance of placental aneuploidy, and assess the potential contribution of CNVs to fetal growth.

Methods

We used molecular-cytogenetic approaches to identify aneuploidy in placentas from 101 infants born small-for-gestational age (SGA), typically used as a surrogate for FGR, and from 173 non-SGA controls from uncomplicated pregnancies. We confirmed aneuploidies and assessed mosaicism by microsatellite genotyping. We then profiled CNVs using high-resolution microarrays in a subset of 53 SGA and 61 control euploid placentas, and compared the load, impact, gene enrichment and clinical relevance of CNVs between groups. Candidate CNVs were confirmed using quantitative PCR.

Results

Aneuploidy was over tenfold more frequent in SGA-associated placentas compared to controls (11.9% vs. 1.1%; p = 0.0002, OR = 11.4, 95% CI 2.5–107.4), was confined to the placenta, and typically involved autosomes, whereas only sex chromosome abnormalities were observed in controls. We found no significant difference in CNV load or number of placental-expressed or imprinted genes in CNVs between SGA and controls, however, a rare and likely clinically-relevant germline CNV was identified in 5.7% of SGA cases. These CNVs involved candidate genes INHBB, HSD11B2, CTCF, and CSMD3.

Conclusions

We conclude that placental genomic imbalances at the cytogenetic and submicroscopic level may underlie up to ~ 18% of SGA cases in our population. This work contributes to the understanding of the underlying causes of placental insufficiency and FGR, which is important for counselling and prediction of long term outcomes for affected cases.

Mosaic Trisomy 16 Associated with Left Lung Agenesis, Abnormal Left Arm, and Right Pulmonary Artery Stenosis: Expanding the Phenotype and Review of the Literature

Trisomy 16 is the most common autosomal trisomy found in spontaneous abortions with mosaic versions seen in survivors. However, surviving children have multiple congenital defects and are at risk of growth and developmental delay. We report an additional case of mosaic trisomy 16 diagnosed by amniocentesis and confirmed after birth. Our patient is the first documented case of living mosaic trisomy 16 with the malformation constellation of lung agenesis, left pulmonary artery agenesis, congenital heart defects, and ipsilateral radial ray and limb abnormalities, expanding the phenotype of this rare condition. Additionally, this individual's unique combination of lung and cardiac defects caused morbidities that were challenging to manage and complicated family counseling as well.

Developmental potential of aneuploid human embryos cultured beyond implantation

Aneuploidy, the presence of an abnormal number of chromosomes, is a major cause of early pregnancy loss in humans. Yet, the developmental consequences of specific aneuploidies remain unexplored. Here, we determine the extent of post-implantation development of human embryos bearing common aneuploidies using a recently established culture platform. We show that while trisomy 15 and trisomy 21 embryos develop similarly to euploid embryos, monosomy 21 embryos exhibit high rates of developmental arrest, and trisomy 16 embryos display a hypo-proliferation of the trophoblast, the tissue that forms the placenta. Using human trophoblast stem cells, we show that this phenotype can be mechanistically ascribed to increased levels of the cell adhesion protein E-CADHERIN, which lead to premature differentiation and cell cycle arrest. We identify three cases of mosaicism in embryos diagnosed as full aneuploid by pre-implantation genetic testing. Our results present the first detailed analysis of post-implantation development of aneuploid human embryos.

Rare autosomal trisomies: comparison of detection through cell-free DNA analysis and direct chromosome preparation of chorionic villus samples

OBJECTIVE

Direct chromosome preparations of chorionic villus samples (CVS) and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing both involve analysis of the trophoblastic cell lineage. The aim of this study was to compare the spectrum of rare autosomal trisomies (RATs) detected by these two approaches and assess the available information on their clinical significance.

METHODS

Data from 10 reports on genome-wide cfDNA testing were pooled to determine which chromosomes were most frequently involved in RAT-positive cases, and pregnancy outcome information was reviewed. CVS information was obtained from an updated database of 76 102 consecutive CVS analyses performed over a period of 18 years at TOMA laboratory, in which trophoblastic and mesenchymal layers were analyzed and amniotic fluid cell analysis was recommended for RAT-positive cases. Chromosomes involved and presence of confined placental mosaicism, true fetal mosaicism and uniparental disomy (UPD) for imprinted chromosomes were assessed. Also evaluated were the frequency and types of RATs in products of conception.

RESULTS

RATs were present in 634 of 196 662 (0.32%) cfDNA samples and 237 of 57 539 (0.41%) CVS trophoblast samples (P < 0.01). The frequency of RATs varied over 8-fold between the cfDNA reports. Confirmation of abnormality through amniocentesis was more likely when RATs were ascertained through cfDNA (14 of 151; 9.3%) than through CVS trophoblasts (seven of 237; 3.0%) (P < 0.01). In cfDNA-ascertained cases, trisomies 15, 16 and 22, which are associated with fetal loss, were identified proportionately more often. Of 151 cases with RAT identified by cfDNA and outcome information available, 41.1% resulted in normal live birth; 27.2% in fetal loss; 7.3% had phenotypic abnormality detected through ultrasound or other follow-up evaluation; 2.0% had a clinically significant UPD; and 14.6% had fetal growth restriction or low birth weight. All autosomes were involved in trisomies in products of conception; the most common RATs detected were trisomies 16, 22 and 15 with a frequency of > 9% each.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there are strong parallels between RATs ascertained through cfDNA analysis and direct chromosome preparation of CVS, caution is needed in applying conclusions from CVS analysis to cfDNA testing, and vice versa. RATs identified through genome-wide cfDNA tests have uncertain risks for fetal loss, growth restriction or fetal abnormality. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Prognosis for pregnancies with trisomy 16 confined to the placenta: A Danish cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome when trisomy 16 confined to the placenta is diagnosed and to identify possible prognostic markers for adverse outcomes in these pregnancies.

METHOD

Registered cases (n = 49) of trisomy 16 diagnosed prenatally in Denmark from 1990 to 2013 were included.

RESULTS

Twenty-five of the pregnancies intended to be continued had confined placental trisomy 16 mosaicism (CPM16). Adverse pregnancy outcome was seen in 17 CPM16 pregnancies (68%), ranging from mild small for gestational age (SGA) to fetal malformations and intrauterine demise. For cases ascertained by combined first trimester screening, the median concentration of pregnancy associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) was 0.17 MoM (IQR: 0.11 MoM). Adverse pregnancy outcome showed a trend toward an association with a high frequency of trisomic cells. Eight children (32%) were born at term with a normal birth weight and no malformations.

CONCLUSION

The risk of adverse pregnancy outcome in case of CPM16 is correlated to ascertainment by combined first trimester screening and tends to be associated with a high frequency of trisomic cells in the placenta. We recommend that variables including ascertainment, the frequency of trisomic cells, and the maternal serum concentration of PAPP-A are taken into consideration when evaluating the prognosis in CPM16 while acknowledging that these factors are strongly correlated.

Outcomes in pregnancies with a confined placental mosaicism and implications for prenatal screening using cell-free DNA

PURPOSE

To assess the association between confined placental mosaicism (CPM) and adverse pregnancy outcome.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was carried out evaluating the outcome of pregnancies with and without CPM involving a rare autosomal trisomy (RAT) or tetraploidy. Birthweight, gestational age at delivery, fetal growth restriction (FGR), Apgar score, neonatal intensive care admission, preterm delivery, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were considered.

RESULTS

Overall 181 pregnancies with CPM and 757 controls were recruited. Outcome information was available for 69% of cases (n = 124) and 62% of controls (n = 468). CPM involving trisomy 16 (T16) was associated with increased incidence of birthweight <3rd centile (P = 0.007, odds ratio [OR] = 11.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.7-47.1) and preterm delivery (P = 0.029, OR = 10.2, 95% CI = 1.9-54.7). For the other RATs, an association with prenatally diagnosed FGR was not supported by birthweight data and there were no other strong associations with adverse outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Excluding T16, the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes for pregnancies carrying a CPM is low. RATs can also be identified through genome-wide cell-free DNA screening. Because most of these will be attributable to CPMs, we conclude that this screening is of minimal benefit.

Prenatally Diagnosed Rare Trisomy 16 Mosaicism in Human Amniotic Fluid Cells in the Second Trimester: A Case Report

Although trisomy 16 is commonly detected in spontaneous abortions and accounts for over 30% of cases of autosomal trisomy detected after spontaneous abortion, trisomy 16 mosaicism is rarely detected by amniocentesis in the second trimester. Here, we report a case of level III trisomy 16 mosaicism (47,XX,+16[8]/46,XX[31]) diagnosed by cytogenetic analysis of independently cultured amniotic fluid cells. The female baby was delivered at full term with low birth weight and intrauterine growth retardation, and interestingly, her karyotype was normal (46,XX). Given the difficulty in predicting the outcomes of fetuses with this mosaicism, it is recommended to inform the possibility of mosaicisms including this trisomy 16 mosaicism during prenatal genetic diagnosis and genetic counseling for parents.

Rare autosomal trisomies, revealed by maternal plasma DNA sequencing, suggest increased risk of feto-placental disease

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of maternal plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) can potentially evaluate all 24 chromosomes to identify abnormalities of the placenta, fetus, or pregnant woman. Current bioinformatics algorithms typically only report on chromosomes 21, 18, 13, X, and Y; sequencing results from other chromosomes may be masked. We hypothesized that by systematically analyzing WGS data from all chromosomes, we could identify rare autosomal trisomies (RATs) to improve understanding of feto-placental biology. We analyzed two independent cohorts from clinical laboratories, both of which used a similar quality control parameter, normalized chromosome denominator quality. The entire data set included 89,817 samples. Samples flagged for analysis and classified as abnormal were 328 of 72,932 (0.45%) and 71 of 16,885 (0.42%) in cohorts 1 and 2, respectively. Clinical outcome data were available for 57 of 71 (80%) of abnormal cases in cohort 2. Visual analysis of WGS data demonstrated RATs, copy number variants, and extensive genome-wide imbalances. Trisomies 7, 15, 16, and 22 were the most frequently observed RATs in both cohorts. Cytogenetic or pregnancy outcome data were available in 52 of 60 (87%) of cases with RATs in cohort 2. Cases with RATs detected were associated with miscarriage, true fetal mosaicism, and confirmed or suspected uniparental disomy. Comparing the trisomic fraction with the fetal fraction allowed estimation of possible mosaicism. Analysis and reporting of aneuploidies in all chromosomes can clarify cases in which cfDNA findings on selected "target" chromosomes (21, 18, and 13) are discordant with the fetal karyotype and may identify pregnancies at risk of miscarriage and other complications.

High resolution global chromosomal aberrations from spontaneous miscarriages revealed by low coverage whole genome sequencing

OBJECTIVE

Chromosome aberrations are generally considered as one of the most substantial causative factors contributing to spontaneous miscarriages. Cytogenetic analyses like G-banded karyotype and chromosomal microarray analyses are often performed to further investigate the chromosome status of a miscarried fetus.

STUDY DESIGN

Here, we describe a novel method, AnnoCNV, to detect DNA copy number variations (CNVs) using low coverage whole genome sequencing (WGS). We investigated the overall frequency of chromosomal abnormalities in 149 miscarriage specimens using AnnoCNV.

RESULTS

Among 149 fetal miscarriage samples, more than two fifths of them (42.95%, 64) carried at least one chromosomal abnormality, and a subset (40) was identified as autosomal trisomy which account for 26.84% of all samples. We have also developed a robust algorithm in AnnoCNV, which is able to differentiate specifically karyotype 69,XXY from sex chromosomal aneuploidy 45,X, and to identify 45,X/46,XX mosaicism. Lastly, across the whole genome AnnoCNV identifies CNVs, which are associated with both reported symptoms and unknown clinical conditions.

CONCLUSION

This cost-effective strategy reveals genome wide discovery of chromosome aberrations at higher resolution, which are consistent with parallel investigation conducted by SNP based assay.

Unrecognized viral infections and chromosome abnormalities as a cause of fetal death - examination with fluorescence in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction

Fifteen to 50% of fetal deaths remain unexplained after post-mortem examination depending on inclusion criteria and classification systems. Our aim was to examine a selection of unexplained fetal deaths in order to investigate whether any common chromosome aberrations or viral infections were present. Reports from 351 fetal autopsies performed at the Department of Pathology and Medical Genetics at St. Olavs University Hospital from 2001 through 2010 were reviewed. Of these, 105 fetal deaths were classified as unexplained. Tissue samples from 30 cases were further examined with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to detect abnormalities in chromosomes 13, 18, and 21. The samples were also examined with immunohistochemistry (IHC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect infections with cytomegalovirus, parvovirus B19, herpes simplex virus 1 and 2, enterovirus, and parechovirus. In two cases, a possible trisomy 13 mosaicism was found. No viruses were detected. In our selection of 30 unexplained cases, possible trisomy 13 mosaicism was found in two cases, and no viruses were detected. High degree of maceration and missing placental examination often complicate the investigation of fetal death, and extensive ancillary examinations do not necessarily contribute to a more specific diagnosis.

A novel frameshift mutation of malonyl-CoA decarboxylase deficiency: clinical signs and therapy response of a late-diagnosed case

We evaluate the clinical findings and the treatment response of a late‐diagnosed case with a novel homozygous insertion c.13_14insG (p.P6Afs*202) result in a frameshift mutation in MLYCD gene. Both cardiac and neurologic involvements were mild when compared to previously reported cases, and see low‐fat/high‐carbohydrate diet treatment is highly effective.

Trans-acting epigenetic effects of chromosomal aneuploidies: lessons from Down syndrome and mouse models

An important line of postgenomic research seeks to understand how genetic factors can influence epigenetic patterning. Here we review epigenetic effects of chromosomal aneuploidies, focusing on findings in Down syndrome (DS, trisomy 21). Recent work in human DS and mouse models has shown that the extra chromosome 21 acts in trans to produce epigenetic changes, including differential CpG methylation (DS-DM), in specific sets of downstream target genes, mostly on other chromosomes. Mechanistic hypotheses emerging from these data include roles of chromosome 21-linked methylation pathway genes (DNMT3L and others) and transcription factor genes (RUNX1, OLIG2, GABPA, ERG and ETS2) in shaping the patterns of DS-DM. The findings may have broader implications for trans-acting epigenetic effects of chromosomal and subchromosomal aneuploidies in other human developmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, and in cancers.

Implementation of non-invasive prenatal testing by semiconductor sequencing in a genetic laboratory

OBJECTIVES

To implement non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for fetal aneuploidies with semiconductor sequencing in an academic cytogenomic laboratory and to evaluate the first 15-month experience on clinical samples.

METHODS

We validated a NIPT protocol for cell-free fetal DNA sequencing from maternal plasma for the detection of trisomy 13, 18 and 21 on a semiconductor sequencing instrument. Fetal DNA fraction calculation for all samples and several quality parameters were implemented in the workflow. One thousand eighty-one clinical NIPT samples were analysed, following the described protocol.

RESULTS

Non-invasive prenatal testing was successfully implemented and validated on 201 normal and 74 aneuploid samples. From 1081 clinical samples, 17 samples showed an abnormal result: 14 trisomy 21 samples, one trisomy 18 and one trisomy 16 were detected. Also a maternal copy number variation on chromosome 13 was observed, which could potentially lead to a false positive trisomy 13 result. One sex discordant result was reported, possibly attributable to a vanishing twin. Moreover, our combined fetal fraction calculation enabled a more reliable risk estimate for trisomy 13, 18 and 21.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-invasive prenatal testing for trisomy 21, 18 and 13 has a very high specificity and sensitivity. Because of several biological phenomena, diagnostic invasive confirmation of abnormal results remains required. © 2016 The Authors. Prenatal Diagnosis published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Robertsonian translocations: an overview of 872 Robertsonian translocations identified in a diagnostic laboratory in China

Robertsonian translocations (ROBs) have an estimated incidence rate of 1/1000 births, making this type of rearrangement the most common structural chromosomal abnormalities seen in the general population. In this study, we reports 872 cases of ROBs from 205,001 specimens karyotyped postnatally in a single accredited laboratory in China, including 583 balanced ROBs, 264 unbalanced ROBs, 9 mosaic ROBs, and 18 complex ROBs. Ninety-three percent of the balanced ROBs observed were adults with infertility, miscarriage, or offspring(s) with known chromosomal abnormalities. Significant excess of females were found to be carriers of balanced ROBs with an adjusted male/female ratio of 0.77. Ninety-eight percent of the unbalanced ROBs observed were children with variable referral reasons. Almost all of the unbalanced ROBs involved chromosome 21 except a single ROB with [46,XX,der(13;14),+13] identified in a newborn girl with multiple congenital anomalies. Multiple novel ROB karyotypes were reported in this report. This study represents the largest collections of ROBs in Chinese population.

Increased Nuchal Translucency and Early Growth Retardation Related to Confined Placental Mosaicism of Trisomy 16 in a Dichorionic Twin

Confined placental mosaicism (CPM) of trisomy 16 is related to intrauterine growth restriction; however, its association with increased nuchal translucency (NT) has not been sufficiently studied. We report the first case involving a diagnosis of CPM for trisomy 16 in a dichorionic twin. Increased NT (3.7 mm) and 1 week of growth retardation at 12 weeks of gestational age were detected in the affected fetus compared with the normal fetus. Given that the biochemical analytes in maternal serum aneuploidy screening of the abnormal fetus were diluted by the presence of the normal fetus, this method was unreliable as a screening tool. Therefore, in dichorionic twins, ultrasonographic findings such as increased NT and early growth retardation can serve as important indicators for the diagnosis of CPM of trisomy 16.

Detecting somatic mosaicism: considerations and clinical implications

Human disease is rarely a matter of all or nothing; variable expressivity is generally observed. Part of this variability is explained by somatic mosaicism, which can arise by a myriad of genetic alterations. These can take place at any stage of development, possibly leading to unusual features visible at birth, but can also occur later in life, conceivably leading to cancer. Previously, detection of somatic mosaicism was extremely challenging, as many gold standard tests lacked the necessary resolution. However, with the advances in high-throughput sequencing, mosaicism is being detected more frequently and at lower levels. This raises the issue of normal variation within each individual vs mosaicism leading to disease, and how to distinguish between the two. In this article, we will define somatic mosaicism with a brief overview of its main mechanisms in concrete clinical examples, discuss the impact of next-generation sequencing technologies in its detection, and expand on the clinical implications associated with a discovery of somatic mosaicism in the clinic.

The origin, mechanisms, incidence and clinical consequences of chromosomal mosaicism in humans

BACKGROUND

Chromosomal mosaicism, the presence of two or more distinct cell lines, is prevalent throughout human pre- and post-implantation development and can lead to genetic abnormalities, miscarriages, stillbirths or live births. Due to the prevalence and significance of mosaicism in the human species, it is important to understand the origins, mechanisms and incidence of mosaicism throughout development.

METHODS

Literature searches were conducted utilizing Pubmed, with emphasis on human pre- and post-implantation mosaicism.

RESULTS

Mosaicism persists in two separate forms: general and confined. General mosaicism is routine during human embryonic growth as detected by preimplantation genetic screening at either the cleavage or blastocyst stage, leading to mosaicism within both the placenta and fetus proper. Confined mosaicism has been reported in the brain, gonads and placenta, amongst other places. Mosaicism is derived from a variety of mechanisms including chromosome non-disjunction, anaphase lagging or endoreplication. Anaphase lagging has been implicated as the main process by which mosaicism arises in the preimplantation embryo. Furthermore, mosaicism can be caused by any one of numerous factors from paternal, maternal or exogenous factors such as culture media or possibly controlled ovarian hyperstimulation during in vitro fertilization (IVF). Mosaicism has been reported in as high as 70 and 90% of cleavage- and blastocyst-stage embryos derived from IVF, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical consequences of mosaicism depend on which chromosome is involved, and when and where an error occurs. Mitotic rescue of a meiotic error or a very early mitotic error will typically lead to general mosaicism while a mitotic error at a specific cell lineage point typically leads to confined mosaicism. The clinical consequences of mosaicism are dependent on numerous aspects, with the consequences being unique for each event.

Non-invasive prenatal testing for aneuploidy: current status and future prospects

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for aneuploidy using cell-free DNA in maternal plasma is revolutionizing prenatal screening and diagnosis. We review NIPT in the context of established screening and invasive technologies, the range of cytogenetic abnormalities detectable, cost, counseling and ethical issues. Current NIPT approaches involve whole-genome sequencing, targeted sequencing and assessment of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) differences between mother and fetus. Clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of NIPT for Down and Edwards syndromes, and possibly Patau syndrome, in high-risk women. Universal NIPT is not cost-effective, but using NIPT contingently in women found at moderate or high risk by conventional screening is cost-effective. Positive NIPT results must be confirmed using invasive techniques. Established screening, fetal ultrasound and invasive procedures with microarray testing allow the detection of a broad range of additional abnormalities not yet detectable by NIPT. NIPT approaches that take advantage of SNP information potentially allow the identification of parent of origin for imbalances, triploidy, uniparental disomy and consanguinity, and separate evaluation of dizygotic twins. Fetal fraction enrichment, improved sequencing and selected analysis of the most informative sequences should result in tests for additional chromosomal abnormalities. Providing adequate prenatal counseling poses a substantial challenge given the broad range of prenatal testing options now available.

Non-mosaic uniparental trisomy 16 presenting with asplenia syndrome and placental abruption: a case report and literature review

Non-mosaic trisomy 16 is rarely seen in later gestation. Herein, we report a fetus with uniparental complete trisomy 16 manifesting with asplenia syndrome, left hand deformity (only 3 deformed fingers on the left hand) and a left low-set ear. The pregnancy ended in severe placental abruption and resultant fetal demise, and maternal hypovolemic shock at 35 weeks of gestation. Only 3 non-mosaic trisomy 16 fetuses, including this case, have been reported to survive into the second or third trimester. Furthermore, this fetus would be the first case of complete trisomy 16 manifesting as asplenia syndrome.

Distinctive neurological phenotype associated with partial trisomy of chromosome 16

We present a case of a live born female infant who presented in early life with a movement disorder, lack of developmental progress and neutropenia. Extensive neuro-metabolic investigation was non-diagnostic. Chromosome analysis of cultured lymphocyte cells showed an abnormal chromosome 16 with additional material noted in the proximal long arm. Additional fluorescence in situ hybridisation studies identified this additional material to represent a duplication of the long arm of chromosome 16 between 16q11.2 and 16q21. There was progressive decline and death by 10 months. Dystonia cortical blindness and neutropenia have not been a reported feature of trisomy 16 to date.

Chromosome-specific DNA repeats: rapid identification in silico and validation using fluorescence in situ hybridization

Chromosome enumeration in interphase and metaphase cells using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is an established procedure for the rapid and accurate cytogenetic analysis of cell nuclei and polar bodies, the unambiguous gender determination, as well as the definition of tumor-specific signatures. Present bottlenecks in the procedure are a limited number of commercial, non-isotopically labeled probes that can be combined in multiplex FISH assays and the relatively high price and effort to develop additional probes. We describe a streamlined approach for rapid probe definition, synthesis and validation, which is based on the analysis of publicly available DNA sequence information, also known as “database mining”. Examples of probe preparation for the human gonosomes and chromosome 16 as a selected autosome outline the probe selection strategy, define a timeline for expedited probe production and compare this novel selection strategy to more conventional probe cloning protocols.