Association of pronuclear Z score with rates of aneuploidy in in vitro-fertilised embryos
W. R. Edirisinghe A B , R. Jemmott A , C. Smith A and J. Allan A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A The Wesley IVF Service, The Wesley Hospital, 451 Coronation Drive, Auchenflower, Qld 4066, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: rohini.edirisinghe@wesley.com.au
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 17(5) 529-534 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD04065
Submitted: 25 June 2004 Accepted: 31 March 2005 Published: 19 May 2005
Abstract
The present study aimed to correlate the Z-scoring system to outcomes in in vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycles performed in conjunction with preimplantation genetic diagnosis. In 178 cycles, a total of 468 pronuclear embryos was scored prospectively using the Z score before culture and biopsy on Day 3 to detect chromosomes 13, 16, 18, 21, 22, X and Y. The results showed significant differences between Z1 and Z4 scoring embryos, with Z1 giving an increased biopsy rate (83.3% v. 51.1%), embryo quality (≥fair: 83.3% v. 57.8%) and embryo growth rate (≥six cells: 87.0% v. 44.4%). The incidence of chromosomally normal embryos decreased from Z1 to Z4 (Z1: 40%; Z2: 29.7%; Z3: 22.7%; Z4: 13.6%; P < 0.04). Thus, the Z scoring, mainly Z1 and Z4, correlated significantly with the expected embryo outcomes and preimplantation genetic diagnosis findings. Further improvement of pronuclear scoring with the use of a two-stage assessment is proposed.
Extra keywords: embryo outcomes, preimplantation genetic diagnosis.
Acknowledgments
The authors greatly appreciate the help and support given by all the clinicians, nurse coordinators and embryologists at the Wesley IVF Service and the scientists at the Cytogenetics Laboratory, Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia).
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