Suitability of fetal tissues from spontaneous abortions and from ectopic pregnancies for transplantation. Human Fetal Tissue Working Group.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the potential availability and utility of fetal tissues obtained from spontaneous abortions and from ectopic pregnancies for human transplantation therapy.

DESIGN

Tissue collection and analysis by personnel skilled in tissue banking.

SETTING

Procurement programs in five tissue banks located in diverse geographical areas that are funded by the National Institutes of Health.

PATIENTS: All women entering obstetric clinics during 1993 who consented to participate in the study.

INTERVENTIONS: None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Evaluation of the products of conception by standard developmental, histological, microbiological, and cytogenetic criteria.

RESULTS

From 22,235 obstetric admissions, 1250 spontaneously aborted embryos and 247 products of ectopic pregnancies were obtained. Of these, seven embryos (0.5%) were potentially useful for human transplantation therapy.

CONCLUSION

Fetal tissues from spontaneous abortions and from ectopic pregnancies are quite limited as feasible sources for human transplantation therapy.