First in Asia!
Malpani Infertility Clinic has achieved Asia's first pregnancy after using the technique of embryo biopsy for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).
PGD, the newest IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) technology, combines molecular genetics and assisted reproductive technology, and allows doctors to identify genetic diseases in the embryo, prior to implantation, before the pregnancy is established. This means that the newest (and youngest!) patient for medicine is now the embryo.
Malpani Infertility Clinic has achieved the first pregnancy in Asia using this technique to prevent Down's syndrome (trisomy 21 or mongolism). Down's syndrome, a common genetic disease, is a leading cause of mental retardation, and occurs because of an extra copy of chromosome 21. The disease is commoner in children born to older women..
Our patient was concerned about her risk of having a child with Down's syndrome, because her nephew had this disease. We did an In Vitro Fertilization cycle for her, and on the 3rd day, the 8-cell embryos were biopsed. to obtain blastomeres (single cells) for genetic analysis. This was carried out by using the molecular cytogenetic technique of FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridisation) with DNA probes specific for the 21 chromosome. After confirming that the embryos were chromosomally normal, the unaffected embryos were transferred back into the uterus. She conceived in her first treatment cycle, and is now 10 weeks pregnant.
PGD can be used to prevent other genetic diseases as well, such as the X-linked genetic disorders (hemophilia and Duchenne muscular dystrophy) as well as single-gene defects (such as thalassemia).
PGD is also used in order to increase pregnancy rates for older infertile women; and for selected women with recurrent miscarriages.
PGD is a highly sophisticated technique, and is available in only a few clinics in the world, because it needs both advanced IVF and genetic expertise.
Malpani Infertility Clinic is very pleased to be able to provide the facility of PGD - preimplantation genetic diagnosis - the newest ART for the first time in India. We are the only clinic which offers this service in India, and have achieved India's first pregnancy after PGD.
You can read more about this technique in an article which appeared in Outlook magazine.
Find out more about PGD here!
