1
|
Gullo G, Scaglione M, Laganà AS, Perino A, Andrisani A, Chiantera V, Cucinella G, Gitas G, Barra F, Riemma G. Assisted Reproductive Techniques and Risk of Congenital Heart Diseases in Children: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Reprod Sci 2023; 30:2896-2906. [PMID: 37145300 PMCID: PMC10556115 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-023-01252-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Infertility is a growing phenomenon and leads to an increased use of assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs). In recent years, concerns about the safety of these procedures emerged and ARTs were hypothesized to be a risk factor for developing congenital heart diseases (CHDs) in offspring. Our aim is to investigate the association between ART and CHD, specifying results according to various subtypes of defects. We performed a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis following the PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE and Google Scholar were searched from January 2011 to May 2022. Data about incidence of CHD in ART were tabulated and extracted from all the studies included. Twenty-four studies were included. Pooled incidence of CHDs after IVF pregnancies was 3% (95% CI 0.3-0.4; I2 = 99%), decreasing to 1% (95% CI 0.00-0.01; I2 = 93%) for major CHDs only. An increased risk of CHDs, especially minor (i.e., not requiring surgical correction), seems to occur in ART compared with non-ART pregnancies [RR 1.71 (95% CI 1.25-2.34; I2 = 99%)]. For major CHDs, not enough evidence is available to assess the real risk. Moreover, some confounding factors (i.e., maternal age and male infertility) seem to play a critical role to determine an increased risk of CHDs. Conflicting results emerged among the studies, setting the need for further research to validate the actual evidence and state the real risk of CHD following ART pregnancies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Gullo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Villa Sofia Cervello Hospital, IVF Unit, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marco Scaglione
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal-Child Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Antonio Simone Laganà
- Unit of Gynecologic Oncology, ARNAS "Civico-Di Cristina-Benfratelli," Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Perino
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Villa Sofia Cervello Hospital, IVF Unit, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandra Andrisani
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Gynaecologic and Obstetrics Clinic, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Vito Chiantera
- Unit of Gynecologic Oncology, ARNAS "Civico-Di Cristina-Benfratelli," Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Gaspare Cucinella
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Villa Sofia Cervello Hospital, IVF Unit, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Georgios Gitas
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Charite, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fabio Barra
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, and Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gaetano Riemma
- Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Largo Madonna delle Grazie 1, 80138, Naples, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|