Cytogenetic studies in couples with repeated spontaneous abortions

Chromosome studies were carried out on both partners of 509 couples with a history of two or more spontaneous abortions. 1) Twenty-six individuals (2.6%) were carriers of a major chromosome abnormality. This incidence is at least six to seven times higher than that in the general adult population. 2) Of these, 10 were reciprocal translocations, 10 robertsonian translocations and 6 numerical aberrations of gonosomes. None of the carriers showed abnormal phenotypes. 3) Chromosome aberrations were more frequent in the women than in their husbands. There were 19 abnormalities in females and 7 in males. 4) The use of banding techniques in chromosome analysis improves the detection of balanced reciprocal translocations. 5) Prenatal diagnosis was performed in 5 subsequent pregnancies of 4 balanced translocation carriers. The fetal karyotypes were 2 normal and 3 balanced translocations. It would seem reasonable to recommend chromosome analysis for couples with repeated spontaneous abortions.