search
for
 About Bioline  All Journals  Testimonials  Membership  News


Journal of Postgraduate Medicine
Medknow Publications and Staff Society of Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, India
ISSN: 0022-3859 EISSN: 0972-2823
Vol. 49, Num. 2, 2003, pp. 154-156

Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, Vol. 49, No. 2, April-June, 2003, pp. 154-156

Case Report

Prenatal Diagnosis of Partial Trisomy 21 Associated With Maternal Balanced Translocation 46xx Der 21 t(21q;22q) With Pericentric Inversion of Chromosome 9

Parmar RC, Sira P

Consulting Paediatricians, Mumbai, India.
Address for Correspondence: Ramesh Parmar, MD, Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Madras Medical Mission Hospital, 4A, JJ Nagar, Muggapair, Chennai-600050, India. E-mail: rameshparmar@yahoo.com

Code Number: jp03040

Abstract:

This communication reports prenatal diagnosis of partial trisomy 21 resulting from balanced translocation (21q;22q) in a 36-year-old gravida 7, para 1 woman. The lady had only one living child and there was history of recurrent spontaneous first trimester abortions. Triple test was abnormal in the present conception. In addition, the woman had pericentric inversion of chromosome 9, a finding scarcely reported previously with carrier status in Indian literature. A few cytogeneticists consider this as a normal variant. However, many reports in the recent literature link pericentric inversion of chromosome 9 with infertility, recurrent abortions and a number of other abnormal conditions. A review of the relevant literature pertinent to the case is provided. (J Postgrad Med 2003;49:154-156)

Key Words: Trisomy 21, translocation (21;22), prenatal diagnosis, inversion 9

Down syndrome (DS) is the commonest autosomal aneuploidy with most cases resulting from a supernumerary chromosome 21 (classical trisomy). Small proportions of cases of DS result from partial trisomy from translocation between chromosome 21 and other autosome. The frequency of partial trisomy has been shown to vary from 2.2% to 13.7% in Indian studies.1

Pericentric inversion of chromosome 9 (PIC9) is one of the most common balanced structural chromosomal aberrations.2 Despite being categorised as a minor chromosomal rearrangement that does not correlate with an abnormal phenotype, many reports have raised conflicting views regarding the association of PIC9 with subfertility, recurrent abortions and other abnormal clinical conditions.2-8

This communication reports successful prenatal diagnosis of partial trisomy 21, 46 XX der (21) t (21q;22q) associated with balanced translocation with PIC9 in a phenotypically normal mother.

Case History

A 36-year-old gravida 7, para 1 woman with a single living issue, was referred for the prenatal diagnosis. She had one healthy male offspring of 7 years. Her first, second, third, fifth and sixth pregnancy had culminated in spontaneous first trimester abortions for which no cause could be found. Her TORCH titres and rheumatological work-up including anti-cardiolipin antibodies were normal. Neither she nor any of the abortuses had been subjected to cytogenetic analysis. Her ultrasonography done at the 12, 21 and 28 weeks of present conception did not reveal any abnormal markers. Triple screening test done in view of an advanced maternal age showed low serum α-fetoprotein levels. The beta-HCG levels in the serum and unconjugated estriol levels in urine were elevated.

Amniocentesis was performed at 17th week of gestation and culture was set up in 5% CO2 atmosphere for 16 days. Culture indicated metaphases with 46-chromosome complement. G banding of each metaphase revealed partial trisomy 21, 46 XX der (21) t (21q;22q) complement (Figure 1). Maternal karyotype done from peripheral blood leukocyte set in RPMI for 72 hours revealed metaphases with 45-chromosome complement with translocation between chromosome 21 and 22. In addition, there was inversion in p11-q11 segment of one of the chromosome 9 (Figure 2). The foetus did not inherit this pericentric inversion of chromosome 9. Paternal karyotype was normal.

The diagnosis of partial trisomy 21 was made. Parents were counselled and they opted for medical termination of pregnancy. Foetus was not subjected to karyotype examination as per parental wish.

Discussion

Recurrent pregnancy loss occurrs in approximately 1% of women in the reproductive age. Uterine anomaly, parental chromosome anomaly, polycystic ovarian cystic disease, infections and anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome are notable among aetiological factors responsible for recurrent miscarriages.9 But, a definite cause can be established in only 50-60% of the couples.9

Participation of genetically unbalanced gametes in the process of fertilisation is a well-recognised cause of spontaneous abortions. The imbalance may be familial as in our case or may arise de novo and can be detected by cytogenetic studies of the abortus. Unbalanced gametes may also arise during meiosis when a balanced chromosome rearrangement is carried out by one of the two apparently healthy parents. An abnormal chromosome complement (aneuploidy) contributes significantly to foetal loss during pregnancy. The contribution of chromosomal abnormalities to foetal loss decreases as pregnancy continues. An estimated 50% of first trimester spontaneous abortions result from chromosomal abnormalities, but these abnormalities are responsible for only 5% of stillbirths (after 28 weeks of gestation).10

Recurrent miscarriage due to sporadic chromosomal abnormalities may simply be a consequence of the dramatic increase of trisomic conceptions with increased maternal age. A number of foetal chromosomal abnormalities are related to advanced maternal age. These include autosomal trisomies, and sex chromosomal polyploidies (XXY and XXX). However, it is also possible that some couples are at increased risk of abnormalities as a result of gonadal mosaicism, factors affecting chromosome structure and segregation, increased sperm aneuploidy in the male partner, or accelerated "ageing" of the ovaries. Among the chromosomal anomalies seen in these foetuses autosomal trisomies leads the list (61.6%) followed by triploidy (16%), monosomies (10.6%) and tetraploidy (4.4%).11 Thus, cytogenetic analysis of the abortus, particularly in cases of recurrent abortion is of great help to arrive at an aetiological diagnosis.

When a Robertsonian translocation causing DS is inherited, the recurrence risk in the future pregnancy depends on the parental sex. In presence of paternal carrier status for t (21;22) the recurrence risk is 5%. It increases further to 10% if mother is a carrier. Over two-thirds of the DS conceptions miscarry spontaneously or are stillborn. A number of tests including screening tests for DS have been devised over last few decades for the prenatal diagnosis of various genetic diseases. Later includes a-fetoprotein levels, unconjugated estriol, serum human chorionic gonadotropin, pregnancy associated protein-A levels and ultrasonography (signs like shortening of humerus and femur, thickening of nuchal fold and renal pyelectasis). They serve as useful markers and indicate need for undertaking prenatal cytogenetic analysis. Foetal karyotype using amniocentesis or chorionic villus biopsy remains the gold standard for the prenatal diagnosis of DS. Efforts are now being made to develop screening tests based on the analysis of foetal nucleated erythrocytes, lymphocytes or the trophoblast cells in the maternal circulation.12 A number of new techniques like yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) and homologous gene PCR have evolved, which are sophisticated, rapid and less time consuming techniques.1,13 Flourescent-in-situ hybridisation (FISH) is another diagnostic method for detection of DS in uncultured foetal cells (amniocytes/chorion villus sample).

Albeit, widespread availability of these tests and their use remain sub-optimal in India. This is evident in our case too. She had 4 spontaneous first-trimester abortions but none of the abortuses or the mother was subjected to even simple cytogenetic analysis, until her triple test was found to be positive.

Incidentally in our case mother was also found to have PIC9, a chromosomal abnormality that is so common that few cytogeneticists consider it to be a normal variant. However, this view is being challenged. Table 1 shows a short summary of certain large series' of clinical investigations involving PIC9. An increasing number of investigators have shown increased incidence of "sub-fertility" in adult carriers of PIC9. Whether these represent a true reflection of "sub-fertility" in this group or a selective bias towards the older "sub-fertile" females who conceive at an older age and thus utilise the antenatal diagnostic workup, remains a matter of debate. Earlier claims of increased incidence of schizophrenia in subjects with PIC9 are disproved by others.7,16 Congenital myotonic dystrophy, cerebral cyst, phenotypic abnormalities have all been reported with PIC9.5,8,17 At the present stage it is difficult to establish if a true relationship exists between these abnormalities and PIC9, as the data is limited. The role of PIC9 still remains a clinical mystery.

References

  1. Verma IC, Mathew S, Elango R, Shukla A. Cytogenetic studies in Down syndrome. Indian Pediatr 1991;28:991-6.
  2. Teo SH, Tan M, Knight L, Ng I. Pericentric inversion 9-incidence and clinical significance. Ann Acad Med Singapore 1995;24:302-4.
  3. Kodama Y. Cytogenetic and dermatoglyphic studies on severely handicapped patients in an institution. Acta Med Okayama 1982;36:383-7.
  4. Makino T, Tabuchi T, Nakada K, Iwasaki K, Tamura S, Ilizuka R. Chromosomal analysis in Japanese couples with recurrent spontaneous abortions. Int J Fertil 1990;35:266-70.
  5. Miyazaki M, Hashimoto T, Tayama M, Ueta T. Congenital myotonic dystrophy associated with chromosome pericentric inversion. Neuropediatrics 1991;22:181-3.
  6. Yamada K. Population based studies of INV (9) chromosomes in 4,300 Japanese: incidence, sex difference and clinical significance. Jpn J Hum Genet 1992;37:293-301.
  7. Kunugi H, Lee KB, Nanko S. Cytogenetic findings in 250 schizophrenics: evidence confirming an excess of the chromosome aneupolidies and pericentric inversion of chromosome 9. Schizophr Res 1999;40:43-7.
  8. Miyako T, Seno H, Itago M, Ishino H. A case of small cerebral cyst and pericentric inversion of chromosome 9 that developed schizophrenia-like psychosis. Psychaitry Clin Neurosci 1999;53:599-602.
  9. Diejomaoh MF, Al-Azemi M, Jirous J, Bandar A, Egbase P, Al-Sweih N. The aetiology and pattern of recurrent pregnancy loss. J Obstet Gynaecol 2002;22:62-7.
  10. Daniely M, Aviram-Goldring A, Barkai G, Goldman B. Detection of chromosomal aberration in fetuses arising from recurrent spontaneous abortion by comparative genomic hybridization. Hum Reprod 1998;13:805-9.
  11. Be C, Velasquez P, Youlton R. Spontaneous abortion: Cytogenetic study of 609 cases. Rev Med Chil 1997;125:317-22.
  12. Mueller UW, Hawes CS, Wright AE, Petropoulos A, De Boni E, Firgnira FA, et al. Isolation of fetal trophoblast cells from peripheral blood of pregnant women. Lancet 1990;336:197-200.
  13. Lee HH, Chang LG, Lin SP, Chao HT, Yang ML, Ng HT. Rapid detection of trisomy 21 by homologues gene quantitative PCR (HGQ-PCRT). Hum Genet 1997;99:364-7.
  14. Serra A, Brahe C, Millington-Ward T, Neri G, Tedeschi B, Tassone F, et al. Pericentric inversion of chromosome 9: prevalence in 300 Down syndrome families and molecular studies of nondisjunction. Am J Med Genet Suppl 1990;7:162-8.
  15. Ko TM, Hseieh FJ, Chang LS, Pan MF, Lee TY. Pericentric inversion of chromosome 9 in Taiwanese fetuses. J Formos Med Assoc 1992;91:473-4.
  16. Toyota T, Shimizu H, Yamada K, Yoshitsugu K, Meerabux J, Hattori E. Karyotype analysis of 161 unrelated schizophrenics: no increased incidence rates of X chromosome mosaicism or inv (9), using ethnically matched and age stratified controls. Schizophr Res 2001;52:171-9.
  17. Scarinci R, Anichini C, Vivarelli R, Berardi R, Pucci L, Rosaia L, et al. Correlation of the clinical phenotype with a pericentric inversion of chromosome 9. Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper 1992:68:175-81.

Copyright 2003 - Journal of Postgraduate Medicine. Online full-text also available at http://www.jpgmonline.com/


The following images related to this document are available:

Photo images

[jp03040f1.jpg] [jp03040t1.jpg] [jp03040f2.jpg]
Home Faq Resources Email Bioline
© Bioline International, 1989 - 2024, Site last up-dated on 01-Sep-2022.
Site created and maintained by the Reference Center on Environmental Information, CRIA, Brazil
System hosted by the Google Cloud Platform, GCP, Brazil