The Embryo

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

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2. Mechanisms of Early Embryonic Loss In Vivo and In Vitro

   • P. Braude, M. Johnson, S. Pickering, C. Vincent

   Pages 1-10

3. Aetiology of Pregnancy Failure

   • J. L. Simpson

   Pages 11-34

4. Anembryonic Pregnancy

   • I. Stabile

   Pages 35-43

5. Embryonic Loss: Clinical Perspectives

   • J. L. Yovich

   Pages 45-62

6. Embryo Biopsy

   • V. N. Bolton

   Pages 63-79

7. Preimplantation Diagnosis by DNA Amplification

   • A. H. Handyside

   Pages 81-90

8. Transabdominal Chorion Villus Biopsy Versus Amniocentesis for Diagnosis of Aneuploidy: Safety Is Not Enough

   • R. J. Lilford, H. Irving, J. K. Gupta, P. O’Donovan, G. Linton

   Pages 91-100

9. The Role of Echography in the Diagnosis of Fetal Chromosomal Defects

   • K. H. Nicolaides, R. J. M. Snijders, C. M. Gosden

   Pages 101-121

10. Embryoscopy: An Evolving Technology for Early Prenatal Diagnosis

    • E. A. Reece, J. C. Hobbins

    Pages 123-140

11. Sexing the Pre-embryo

    • J. D. West

    Pages 141-164

12. Embryonic Development: The Origin of Neural Tube Defects

    • A. J. Copp

    Pages 165-180

13. Ultrasound and Biochemical Assessment of First Trimester Pregnancy

    • B. Brambati, A. Lanzani, L. Tului

    Pages 181-194

14. Endocrinology and Metabolism in Early Pregnancy

    • J. G. Grudzinskas, T. Chard

    Pages 195-207

15. The Endocrinology of the Fetoplacental Unit in the Second Trimester of Pregnancy

    • T. Chard, J. G. Grudzinskas

    Pages 209-226

16. Endometrial Proteins

    • R. Koistinen, M. Julkunen, L. Riittinen, A. M. Suikkari, M. Seppälä

    Pages 227-239

17. Maternal Serum AFP Screening for Fetal Malformations and Down’s Syndrome

    • B. Nørgaard-Pedersen

    Pages 241-249

18. Biochemical Screening for Down’s Syndrome

    • N. Wald, H. Cuckle

    Pages 251-257

19. Back Matter

    Pages 259-263

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A variety of new techniques that promise to revolutionize the clinical management of early pregnancy are fully detailed in this state-of-the-art book. Leading international researchers describe fast-moving topics such as embryo manipulation and the diagnosis of congenital abnormalities. The technology of assisted reproduction has made it possible to study living embryonic material for the first time, which has led to rapid advances in our understanding of the human embryo's early development. For example, study of the embryo in the test tube has pointed to early pregnancy loss as a possible cause of later infertility. Even more important, diagnostic tests using sophisticated techniques of molecular biology can be run on single cells before the embryo is replaced in the uterus. Another area of advance is the diagnosis of congenital abnormalities in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. Great improvements have been made in the techniques of chorion villus biopsy and ultrasound imaging. A spectrum of simple biochemical tests performed on the mother's blood can greatly improve the detection of Down syndrome and other chromosome defects. Together with other developments in the fields of molecular biology and endocrinology, these new diagnostic techniques are the beginning of a new age in clinical human genetics and embryology.

• Chromosom
• Embryologie
• Endokrinologie
• Erbkrankheit
• Uterus
• assisted reproduction
• development
• embryo
• endocrinology
• genetics
• growth
• infertility
• pregnancy
• reproduction
• ultrasound

• Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Guy’s Hospital, London, UK

  Michael G. Chapman

• Academic Unit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The London Hospital, Whitechapel, London, UK

  J. Gedis Grudzinskas

• Academic Unit of Reproductive Physiology, St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College, London, UK

  Tim Chard

Policies and ethics