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. 2022 Sep;39(9):2027-2033.
doi: 10.1007/s10815-022-02588-9. Epub 2022 Aug 17.

Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy in patients with low embryo numbers: benefit or harm?

Arnold M Mahesan  1 , Paul T Chang  2   3 , Ruth Ronn  2 , Anthea B M Paul  3 , Jim Meriano  2   3 , Robert F Casper  2   3   4
Affiliations

Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy in patients with low embryo numbers: benefit or harm?

Arnold M Mahesan et al. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2022 Sep.

Erratum in

Abstract

Purpose: We sought to explore the utility of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) in a poor prognosis group of women with few embryos available for transfer.

Methods: This was a retrospective matched cohort study examining records for first or second-cycle IVF patients with 1 to 3 blastocysts. The study group comprised 130 patients who underwent PGT-A on all embryos. The control group included 130 patients matched by age, BMI, and blastocyst number and quality who did not undergo PGT-A during the same time period.

Results: The live birth rate (LBR) per embryo transfer (ET) were similar in the PGT-A and control groups, and the spontaneous abortion (SAB) rate was the same (23%). However, we found a significantly higher LBR per oocyte retrieval in the control group vs the PGT-A group (43% vs 20%, respectively) likely due to the many no-euploid cycles in the PGT-A group. In a subgroup analysis for age, the similar LBR per ET persisted in women < 38. However, in older women, there was a trend to a higher LBR per ET in the PGT-A group (43%) vs the control group (22%) but a higher LBR per oocyte retrieval in the control group (31%) vs the PGT-A group (13%).

Conclusions: Overall, we observed a significant increase in LBR per oocyte retrieval in women in the control group compared to women undergoing PGT-A, and no difference in SAB rate. Our data suggests that PGT-A has no benefit in a subpopulation of women with few embryos and may cause harm.

Keywords: In vitro fertilization; Low ovarian reserve; Pregnancy; Preimplantation genetic testing.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The treatment pathways including live birth outcome for the 130 cycles yielding 1 to 3 blastocysts where PGT-A was performed (top) and the 130 matched control cycles that did not undergo PGT-A (bottom)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The increase in cumulative birth per oocyte retrieval with each successive embryo transfer in the PGT-A group vs the control group
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Live birth per embryo transfer and per oocyte retrieval for women < 38 and women 38 + in the PGT-A group vs the control group
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Cumulative live birth per oocyte retrieval for women with 1, 2, and 3 blastocysts in the PGT-A group vs the control groups
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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