Re: CVS for Lucinda

[Guest guest]

Hi Lucinda,

sorry for being so late with my response, but I had to verify a few things.

First here is a description of what a CVS is:

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

CVS can be conducted in pregnancies which are less than 12 weeks pregnant.

This method can be conducted from the beginning of the 10th week through the

12th week of pregnancy, the risk is about 1% or less. If a question arises

as to the accuracy of the results, amniocentesis may be necessary to confirm

them. The choronic villi are small finger like projections which contain the

genes of the developing embryo, a small sample cam be removed by one of two

ways: 1.Transcervical: Using ultrasound a thin tube is inserted through the

vagina into the uterus 2.Transabdominal: This same approach is the same as

is done for amniocentesis except the needle does not enter the amniotic sac.

As with amniocentesis the results are usually available in about 10 days.

[1] Brumfield CG, Lin S, Conner W, et al. Pregnancy outcome following

genetic amniocentesis at 11-14 vs 16-19 weeks' gestation. Obstet Gynecol.

1996;88:114-118.

In the past there was the problem with CVS, that the mother's cells may get

into the sample and thus give an inaccurate result. We were assured by our

geneticst that this won't happen if an EDTA blood-sample is taken from both

parents to make sure that the lab only works with cells from the embryo.

Since Silke and I both have the dF508 mutation it is more difficult to test

for CF than if we had two different mutations. In our case the lab has to do

a quantitative analysis (that means they have to find out HOW MUCH dF508 the

embryo has). And that kind of test can be done more precisely with DNA

material from the CVS than with breeded cells from the amnio.

Hope this explains why we have to go for the CVS if Silke gets pregnant.

Peace

Torsten, dad of Fiona 5wcf

e-mail: torstenkrafft@...

Re: Hello Everyone

Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 15:35:07 -0000

Hi Wendi,

welcome to the list. We are in the same situation. We are " working "

on our second child for more than a year now after thinking about it

for four years. Since preimplantation diagnosis (PID) isn't allowed

here in Germany and we don't wanna have another child wcf (a very

difficult decision) we have to play russian roulette. Recently I

spoke with a geneticst about CVS vs. amnio. While generally amnio is

the standard way of prenatal testing she prefers a CVS for the CF

testing. She said that she needs the blood of both parents first (to

make sure that one can distinguish between cells from the mother and

cells from the fetus) and then a CVS is performed at 12 or 13 weeks.

You'll get the results within 10 days then. The only downside is that

there is a higher risk of a miscarriage with CVS (1% vs. 0.3% with

amnios).

Hope this helps. The whole question of prenatal testing is highly

sensibel and in the end a personal decision of the parents. But

fortunately we have been able on this list to discuss it mature and

calmly.

Peace

Torsten, dad of Fiona 5wcf

> Hello-

> I am brand new to this group. I am really looking forward to having

people

> to talk to who understand what I am going through. I am the mother

of a

> wonderful 2 and a 1/2 year old. Her name is Peyton . She

was

> diagnosed with CF at 13 months. Thus far we have been very

fortunate, she

> had been very healthy and her specialist is happy with her progress

since

> the diagnosis. (She was diagnosed because of failure to thrive.)

My

> husband and I have always wanted 2+ children and looked forward to

raising

> a family. Peyton is our first child. After her diagnosis I was

hesitant

> to have more children, however I feel that had a lot to do with the

> initial shock and fear of the unknown. Now that we have settled

into a

> routine and my nerves have calmed down, we are trying to have

another

> child. Although we have not conceived yet, (been trying for 6

months) I

> am weighing the pros and cons and options of prenatal testing, CVS

versus

> amnio. Can anyone who has been in this situation offer

suggestions? I

> look forward to hearing from you!

>

> Thanks!

> ~Wendi

>

>

>

>