Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH) Results among Patients Referred to Invasive Prenatal Testing after First-Trimester Screening: A Comprehensive Cohort Study

Abstract

Introduction: Invasive prenatal testing with chromosomal microarray analysis after first-trimester screening is a relevant option but there is still debate regarding the indications. Therefore, we evaluated the prevalence of numerical chromosomal aberrations detected by classic karyotype and clinically relevant copy number variants (CNVs) in prenatal samples using array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) stratified to NT thickness: 4.5 mm, and by the presence/absence of associated structural anomalies detected by ultrasonography. Materials and Methods: Retrospective cohort study carried out at two tertiary Polish centers for prenatal diagnosis (national healthcare system) in central and south regions from January 2018 to December 2021. A total of 1746 prenatal samples were received. Indications for invasive prenatal testing included high risk of Down syndrome in the first-trimester combined test (n = 1484) and advanced maternal age (n = 69), and, in 193 cases, other reasons, such as parental request, family history of congenital defects, and genetic mutation carrier, were given. DNA was extracted directly from amniotic fluid (n = 1582) cells and chorionic villus samples (n = 164), and examined with classic karyotype and aCGH. Results: Of the entire cohort of 1746 fetuses, classical karyotype revealed numerical chromosomal aberrations in 334 fetuses (19.1%), and aCGH detected CNV in 5% (n = 87). The frequency of numerical chromosomal aberrations increased with NT thickness from 5.9% for fetuses with NT 4.5 mm. The highest rate of numerical aberrations was observed in fetuses with NT > 4.5 mm having at least one structural anomaly (50.2%). CNVs stratified by NT thickness were detected in 2.9%, 2.9%, 3.5%, 4.3%, 12.2%, and 9.0% of fetuses with NT 4.5 mm, respectively. After exclusion of fetuses with structural anomalies and numerical aberrations, aCGH revealed CNVs in 2.0% of fetuses with NT 4.5 mm. Conclusions: In conclusion, our study indicates that performing aCGH in samples referred to invasive prenatal testing after first-trimester screening provides additional clinically valuable information over conventional karyotyping, even in cases with normal NT and anatomy.

Keywords

• aCGH
• array comparative genomic hybridization
• chromosomal microarray
• CMA
• CNV
• copy number variant