MitchellS. Golbus

FETAL SURGERY FOR CONGENITAL HYDRONEPHROSIS

ALTHOUGH many fetal anatomic abnormalities can now be diagnosed by sonography, only a few will affect prenatal management.1 In the fetus with severe bilateral hydronephrosis secondary to urethral o...

PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS OF β-THALASSÆMIA AND SICKLE-CELL ANÆMIA: Experience with 24 Cases

Abstract Prenatal diagnosis of β-thalassaemia and sickle-cell anaemia was attempted in 24 pregnancies. Adequate amounts of fetal blood (for studying globin-chain synthesis) were obtained in 22 cases. 4 cases of homozygous β-thalassaemia and 2 of sickle-cell anaemia were diagnosed. The difference between the homozygous and non-homozygous states was well defined. Fetal bleeding from cord puncture and amnionitis resulted in the loss of three fetuses, and methods to avoid these complications are being devised. It is concluded that prenatal diagnosis of disorders of β-globin synthesis is feasible.

CHROMOSOME ABNORMALITIES IN ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE BREAKTHROUGH PREGNANCIES

Studies have shown an increased incidence of chromosome abnormalities in babies of women who have taken oral contraceptives (OC) at the time of conception. The Kaiser-Permanente Birth Defects Study between 1975-1977 observed 814 babies of OC users at time of conception and found 1 case of trisomy 21 and 2 cases of trisomy 18. The frequency rate for the 3 cases of de-novo chromosome abnormality in the pill failure group was 3.69/1000 and 1.28/1000 among 32737 in the control group.