DNA flow cytometric quantification and DNA polymorphism analysis in the case of a complete mole with a coexisting fetus.

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to investigate whether DNA flow cytometric quantification and DNA polymorphism analysis are useful for cytogenetic diagnosis in the case of a complete hydatidiform mole that coexists with a living fetus.

METHODS

Flow cytometric analysis of the nuclear DNA content and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the minisatellite locus with the MCT118 probe were performed on the tissues (fetus, placenta and mole) obtained at the initial evacuation.

RESULTS

DNA histograms of placental, fetal, and molar tissues showed diploid peaks. PCR products demonstrated that the allele of the mole was homozygous and inherited solely from the husband and that the mole differed genetically from the fetus and the placenta.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggested that DNA flow cytometry and DNA polymorphism analysis may be useful for the cytogenetic diagnosis of a complete hydatidiform mole and a coexisting fetus.