Cytogenetic surveillance of spontaneous abortions.

During the five years of a cytogenetic study on spontaneous abortions in Hawaii there have been significant increases in the frequencies of triploidy of maternal origin and trisomy 16, a significant decrease in sex chromosome monosomy, and variation without trend in the frequency of tetraploidy. Attempts to explain these results in terms of technical factors or changes in maternal and gestational age have been unsuccessful, as have preliminary attempts to identify viral, pharmacological, or other causes. Apparently the etiology of chromosomal abnormality is variable over a few years even in a stable population. Research to identify these causes is continuing on the supposition that variable risks can be reduced.