[Outcome of pregnancy following amniocentesis in the prenatal diagnosis of genetic birth defects].

From 1973 to 1982, genetic amniocenteses were performed in 2548 women with singleton pregnancies. Of the cases done up to the end of 1979 the outcome of the pregnancy is on record in 1163 of 1232 cases. Of the cases done from 1980 to 1982 the outcome up to three weeks after the amniocentesis is known in all cases. The final outcome of the pregnancy is known in 25% of these cases. The over-all abortion rate due to the amniocentesis was 0.5%. In the first group, the abortion rate was 0.8% for ultrasound guided amniocenteses and 2.9% for blind punctures. The fetal loss rate from abortion and stillbirth was 3.5%. The abortion rate was correlated to the maternal age, threatened abortions prior to the amniocentesis, the placental site and the technique of puncture. Because of pathological findings, the pregnancy was terminated in 3.2% of the cases. The majority of the amniocenteses was performed between the 16. and 18. week of gestation. Repeat punctures were required in 1.9% of the women. The incidence of discoloration of the amniotic fluid was 2.0%. The rate of frankly blood stained fluid was 2.2%. The frequency of minimally blood stained fluid was 3.2%. Blood stained samples of amniotic fluid were significantly more often obtained with larger canulas , blind punctures and in cases with anterior placentas. A feto-maternal transmission of red blood cells was detected in 10 of 699 tested cases (1.4%). Serious maternal complications or fetal injuries did not occur.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)