2006 Press Releases

IRMS SCIENTISTS PUBLISH CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE THAT PGD HELPS PATIENTS WITH RECURRENT MISCARRIAGES
CARRY TO TERM

Livingston, N.J -- Scientists at the Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science (IRMS) have published new conclusive evidence that patients suffering from recurrent miscarriages in the first trimester are more likely to give birth after invitro fertilization combined with preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).

The landmark study was presented at the October 2006 American Society for Reproductive Medicine meeting by John Garrisi, Ph.D., IRMS Laboratory Director, working in conjunction with Santiago Munne, Ph.D., Director of Reprogenetics, and it also will also be published in the journal Fertility and Sterility. This research should give hope to those couples with a condition called Recurrent Early Pregnancy Loss, offering an opportunity for successful full term pregnancy.

"It is very gratifying to provide some hope to this very difficult-to-treat group of patients," says Dr. Garrisi. "There are several possible causes for this condition and we have eliminated one of them with PGD."
Scientists at IRMS found that a major contributing factor in these recurrent pregnancy losses was a chromosomal abnormality in the embryos. PGD is performed after a couple has created embryos through in vitro fertilization. Before implanting the embryos, physicians at the Institute test a single cell from each embryo for a variety of conditions. They then implant in the woman’s womb only those embryos which appear to be chromosomally normal.

In the study, the group of patients who received PGD before transfer had a delivery rate of 37 percent, while those who had embryos transferred without PGD had a pregnancy rate of 14 percent. In addition, those who received PGD actually had fewer embryos implanted, 1.6 embryos transferred for every 2.2 embryos transferred in the control group. There were fewer embryos to transfer after subtracting those deemed to have chromosomal abnormalities.

A chromosomal abnormality, where too many or two few chromosomes combine, can only be detected by testing the embryo. Typically these patients experience three or more early pregnancy losses, a devastating situation for any couple. In the majority of patients, no obvious predisposing factor is found.

New Hope for Devastated Couples
PGD offers new hope to couples experiencing the pain of recurrent pregnancy loss. The Institute is one of the major centers for PGD and Dr. Munne, who performed the procedure more than 400 times last year, is one of the leading pioneers of PGD in the world.

Diane Rinaldi of Monmouth County, N.J., suffered four miscarriages in the first trimester and describes the experiences as “very upsetting.” They read about PGD and decided to come to the Institute for the procedure. Of eight embryos that were produced by the Rinaldis, only three proved to be viable for implantation. The Rinaldis became pregnant after the in vitro fertilization with PGD and delivered a healthy 7 and a half-pound boy, Joseph, on March 5, 2002.

"The entire infertility community has been searching for a way to help this very frustrated group of patients," says Serena H. Chen, M.D., Director of the Division of Reproductive Medicine and Director of the Egg Donation Program at IRMS at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. "The improved pregnancy rates found with PGD are a significant advancement for those with recurrent early miscarriage."

For More Information
PGD fees are in addition to the cost of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, the latter two of which may be covered by individual insurance through the New Jersey Family Building Act. For further information, please contact IRMS at (973) 322-8286, or visit the website at www.sbivf.com. Dr Chen, and her partners, Dr Natalie Cekleniak and Dr Margaret Garrisi, answer questions about miscarriage, conception and infertility on the IRMS message board, which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Date: November 20, 2006

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