Detailed investigation into the cytogenetic constitution and pregnancy outcome of replacing mosaic blastocysts detected with the use of high-resolution next-generation sequencing

Abstract

Objective: To determine the pregnancy outcome potential of mosaic embryos, detected by means of preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) with the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS). Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Genetics laboratories. Patient(s): PGS cycles during which either mosaic or euploid embryos were replaced. Intervention(s): Blastocysts were biopsied and processed with the use of NGS, followed by frozen embryo transfer. Trophectoderm (TE) biopsies were classified as mosaic if they had 20%–80% abnormal cells. Main Outcome Measure(s): Implantation, miscarriage rates, and ongoing implantation rates (OIRs) were compared between euploid and types of mosaic blastocysts. Result(s): Complex mosaic embryos had a significantly lower OIR (10%) than aneuploidy mosaic (50%), double aneuploidy mosaic (45%), and segmental mosaic (41%). There was a tendency for mosaics with 40%–80% abnormal cells to have a lower OIR than those with <40% (22% vs. 56%). However, few embryos (n = 34) with a mosaic error in 40%–80% of the TE sample were replaced. There was no difference between monosomic and trisomic mosaics or between entire chromosome mosaicism or segmental mosaicism. Implantation rates were significantly higher (70% vs. 53%), miscarriage rates lower (10% vs. 25%), and OIRs higher (63% vs. 40%) after euploid embryo transfer than after mosaic embryo transfer. Conclusion(s): Forty-one percent of mosaic embryos produced an ongoing implantation. Complex mosaic blastocysts had a lower OIR than other mosaics. Mosaic monosomies performed as well as mosaic trisomies and mosaic segmental aneuploidies. The results suggest that embryos with >40% abnormal cells and those with multiple mosaic abnormalities (chaotic mosaics) are likely to have lower OIRs and should be given low transfer priority.