Abstract
Amniocentesis was carried out in 161 pregnancies from August, 1971, through September, 1976. The follow-up study of 102 infants upon whose mothers genetic amniocentesis was performed has failed to reveal any abnormalities in psychomotor development. Results of this study were summarized as follows: 1) Three spontaneous abortions (2%) and 4 premature births (3. 8%) occurred following amniocentesis. 2) In one out of 145 pregnancies, vaginal bleeding occurred after amniocentesis, but no other complications were noted. 3) The incidence of low-birth-weight infant, "small-for-gestational age" infant and "large-for-gestational age" infant was 5.8% 3.9% and 2.9%, respectively. 4) The statistics of physical measurements in full-term newborn infants were not different from that found in the general population. The frequency of minor malformations was not appreciably increased. 5) No harmful effects were observed on growth and development up to the age of 3. 6) Congenital abnormalities evident which were not detectable by the amniocentesis procedure were as follows: a case of cerebral palsy, one of congenital heart disease and another of congenital subluxation of the hip. Futher studies are necessary to elucidate the relationship between these congenital abnormalities and amniocentesis. 7) A questionable needle mark was observed in two cases. One child had a 2mm dimple in the upper left arm and another in the right leg. But no neurological abnormality was detected.
