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Foetal thymus size in pregnancies after assisted reproductive technologies
Ist Teil von
Archives of gynecology and obstetrics, 2018-08, Vol.298 (2), p.329-336
Ort / Verlag
Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Erscheinungsjahr
2018
Link zum Volltext
Quelle
Alma/SFX Local Collection
Beschreibungen/Notizen
Purpose
The aim of our study was to compare thymus sizes in foetuses conceived using assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to those conceived naturally (control group).
Methods
Sonographic foetal thymus size was assessed retrospectively in 162 pregnancies conceived using ART and in 774 pregnancies conceived naturally. The anteroposterior thymic and the intrathoracic mediastinal diameter were measured to calculate the thymic–thoracic ratio (TT-ratio). The ART cases were subdivided into two groups: (1) intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI;
n
= 109) and (2) in vitro fertilisation (IVF;
n
= 53).
Results
The TT-ratio was smaller in pregnancies conceived using ART (
p
< 0.001). In both ART subgroups (ICSI and IVF), the TT-ratio was lower compared to the control group (
p
< 0.001). However, no difference between the two subgroups could be detected (
p
= 0.203).
Conclusions
Our data show reduced thymus size in foetuses conceived using ART compared to controls. These findings indicate that the use of ART may lead to certain deviations in organogenesis.