PRAGUE — Genetic carriers of familial adenomatous polyposis can now decrease their risks of conceiving an affected child with the help of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Stéphane Viville, Ph.D., reported at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.
Until now, couples in whom one person was a dominant carrier of this adult-onset colorectal cancer had to wait for prenatal tests to confirm an affected pregnancy and then make the decision about termination.
Dr. Viville of University Hospital in Strasbourg, France, studied 15 couples (7 female carriers and 8 male carriers) who were at risk of conceiving a child with familial adenomatous polyposis. Although 13% of the couples already had children, none had any knowledge of their children's carrier status. The couples underwent in vitro fertilization. Using a fluorescent polymerase chain reaction technique, Dr. Viville's team identified and excluded affected embryos. A total of 12 cycles and 11 retrievals were performed. Eight embryos were replaced, with the result of one healthy delivery and two ongoing pregnancies, he reported.