Abstract
Abstract The pressure to identify cause and provide a magical cure for couples with recurrent spontaneous abortion is enormous. The actual size of the clinical problem in Saudi Arabia is not known. Nevertheless, it is perceived to be common. Recurrent abortion is the most significant complication of pregnancy, numerous factors have been described as associations with recurrent abortion such as: uterine abnormalities, immunological factors, endocrinologic imbalance and chromosomal defects. The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in those abortions is as high as 50%. A modest but clinically important proportion of spontaneous abortions is caused by a balanced chromosomal aberration in one of the parents. This results from the production of gametes and embryos with unbalanced chromosome sets. The clinical consequences of such abnormal gametes include sterility, recurrent abortions, and giving birth to malformed children. Until now, no such studies have been done in Jeddah area. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency and nature of chromosomal abnormalities that lead to recurrent abortions in Jeddah, also it compares our region to other countries and research centers. Cytogenetic study was done for 42 Saudi couples who presented with repeated abortion at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. We found that the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities was not significantly different from that reported worldwide. This study should help physicians working in the region to realize the contribution of chromosomal abnormalities to cases of repeated fetal loss. It should also help in setting priorities of cytogenetic screening in individual cases.
