Embryonic development in consecutive specimens from recurrent spontaneous abortions.

Although habitual abortion occurs in a relatively small number of patients, its successful management is often difficult. Etiologic factors may be either maternal or embryonic or both; there is much information available on maternal factors but little is known of factors related to the embryo. Information obtained from examining and karyotyping the aborted embryo or fetus may be of considerable importance in determining the possible cause of the abortion and subsequent investigation and counseling of the patient. At least two specimens from over 50 women who have had two or more consecutive spontaneous abortions have been examined and the results show that: (1) Patients aborted conceptuses of the same developmental stage, i.e., embryo or fetus, in consecutive pregnancies. This suggests that investigation should be directed to factors which may be important in the stage of pregnancy indicated. (2) Late abortions were associated with normal fetal development and factors related to the uterine environment. (3) The conceptus in an early abortion was significantly more likely to have a cytogenetic abnormality, suggesting a problem at, or prior to, conception/fertilization. A case study is also included.