Probabilities of Fetal Mortality

French, Fern E.; Bierman, Jessie M.

doi:10.2307/4591645

Cited by 185 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 7 publications

(1 reference statement)

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“…Leridon highlighted the consequences of inappropriate analysis and the quantitative biases produced by alternative numerical methods. Overall, he discussed sixteen studies, and provided detailed commentary on six 42– 47 . These data are summarised in Figure 2 and suggest that 12–24% embryos alive at 4 weeks’ gestation (i.e., approx.…”

Section: What the Data Saymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Kauai Pregnancy Study data 42 are shown in thick black. Data from Shapiro (1970) 46 were analysed either with all pregnancies included (ALL) or with those pregnancies excluded that aborted within one week of study entry (EXCL.).…”

Section: What the Data Saymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Leridon described the Kauai Pregnancy Study 42 in particular detail. In this study, an attempt was made to identify every pregnancy on Kauai from 1953–56.…”

Section: What the Data Saymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although pregnancies were grouped in four week periods, Leridon suggested that early mortality may change week by week, resulting in underestimation of pregnancy loss. He re-allocated the 592 study entries and 32 pregnancy losses for weeks 4–7 ( Table 2) generating an overall probability of pregnancy loss during this period of 15.0%, higher than 10.8% originally reported 42 . Leridon’s own description of this interpolation as “ risky ” can be illustrated by adjusting his re-allocation 18 .…”

Section: What the Data Saymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, its accuracy depends entirely on the quality and interpretation of the data from Hertig 33 and French & Bierman 42 . French & Bierman’s approach probably resulted in an overestimate of total pregnancy loss and is certainly imprecise in its estimate of embryo loss in the four weeks following the first missed menstrual period.…”

Section: What the Data Saymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Early embryo mortality in natural human reproduction: What the data say

Jarvis

2016

F1000Res

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It is generally accepted that natural human embryo mortality during pregnancy is high – losses of 70% and higher from fertilisation to birth are frequently claimed. The first external sign of pregnancy occurs two weeks after fertilisation with a missed menstrual period. Establishing the fate of embryos before this is challenging, and hampered by a lack of data on the efficiency of fertilisation under natural conditions. Four distinct sources are cited to justify quantitative claims regarding embryo loss: (i) a hypothesis published by Roberts & Lowe in The Lancet is widely cited but has no quantitative value; (ii) life table analyses give consistent assessments of clinical pregnancy loss, but cannot illuminate losses at earlier stages of development; (iii) studies that measure human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) reveal losses in the second week of development and beyond, but not before; and (iv) the classic studies of Hertig and Rock offer the only direct insight into the fate of human embryos from fertilisation under natural conditions. Re-examination of Hertig’s data demonstrates that his estimates for fertilisation rate and early embryo loss are highly imprecise and casts doubt on the validity of his numerical analysis. A recent re-analysis of hCG study data suggests that approximately 40-60% of embryos may be lost between fertilisation and birth, although this will vary substantially between individual women. In conclusion, it is clear that some published estimates of natural embryo mortality are exaggerated. Although available data do not provide a precise estimate, natural human embryo mortality is lower than is often claimed.

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Section: What the Data Saymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: What the Data Saymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Leridon described the Kauai Pregnancy Study 42 in particular detail. In this study, an attempt was made to identify every pregnancy on Kauai from 1953–56.…”

Section: What the Data Saymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: What the Data Saymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: What the Data Saymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Early embryo mortality in natural human reproduction: What the data say

Jarvis

2016

F1000Res

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Low Birth Weight Across Generations

Klebanoff¹

1984

JAMA

102

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History of maternal fetal loss and increased risk of childhood acute leukemia at an early age. A report from the childrens cancer group

Yeazel

Woods

Robison

et al. 1995

Cancer

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Background. Maternal reproductive history of fetal loss previously has been reported to be associated with an increased risk of leukemia in subsequent offspring. Data from a Childrens Cancer Group (CCG) case‐control study were analyzed to test the hypothesis that this association was dependent on the number of previous fetal losses age at leukemia diagnosis. Methods. A case‐control study using a large Childrens Cancer Group database examined maternal history of fetal loss as a risk factor for childhood leukemia in subsequent offspring. One thousand seven hundred fifty‐three patients with childhood acute leukemia were compared with 839 community control subjects s and 2081 nonleukemia cancer control subjects. Results. A modest increase in risk was found to be associated with a history of fetal loss. Stratification by age at diagnosis of leukemia showed that this association was significant only for those patients diagnosed before 4 years of age and most significant in those patients diagnosed before 2 years of age. When comparing community controls with patients acute lymphocytic leukemia diagnosed before 2 years of age, one previous fetal loss was associated with a five‐fold increased risk (P < 0.001) whereas two or more fetal losses were associated with a relative risk of 24.8 (P < 0.001). Similarly, patients with acute myelocytic leukemia diagnosed before 2 years of age demonstrated 5‐fold and 12‐fold increased risks associated with the previous fetal loss and 2 or more previous fetal losses, respectively. Conclusions. Childhood acute leukemia occurring at younger ages may be associated with an underlying genetic abnormality or chronic environmental exposure, which can be either lethal to the developing fetus or mutagenic and result in the development of acute leukemia.

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Probabilities of Fetal Mortality

Abstract: Results of 4

Cited by 185 publications

References 7 publications

Early embryo mortality in natural human reproduction: What the data say

Early embryo mortality in natural human reproduction: What the data say

Low Birth Weight Across Generations

History of maternal fetal loss and increased risk of childhood acute leukemia at an early age. A report from the childrens cancer group

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