Risks of chorion villus sampling.

From the experience accumulated in less than 4 years of chorionic villus sampling activity, much has been learned about the advantages of prenatal diagnosis in the first trimester. The safety of the procedure during this developmental stage has been extremely good. The record in this centre with over 2700 cases sampled and over 2000 deliveries has demonstrated a fetal loss rate similar to that observed in amniocentesis studies. It appears that fetal loss that may be attributed to the procedure is not more than 1% and may be less. Some of that loss appears to be correlated with avoidable trauma to the chorionic membrane area. If this conclusion is valid, then avoidance of this pattern even in the occasional difficult case may further improve the already acceptable safety record of the procedure.