Risk of congenital heart defects associated with assisted reproductive technologies: a population-based evaluation

Abstract

Cases with CHD were more likely to have been conceived following ART when compared with malformed controls. This higher risk for CHD varied specifically according to the method of ART and the type of CHD and may be due to ART per se and/or the underlying infertility of couples.

Long-term follow-up of children conceived through assisted reproductive technology

“…Numerous studies have indicated that children conceived through ART are at a significantly elevated risk of birth defects (Rimm et al, 2004;Bower and Hansen, 2005;Hansen et al, 2005;Olivennes, 2005;Schieve et al, 2005;Bertelsmann et al, 2008;El-Chaar et al, 2009;Goel et al, 2009;Tararbit et al, 2011;Davies et al, 2012;Mozafari Kermani et al, 2012;Wen et al, 2012). Meta-analyses have shown a 30%-40% increase in the major malformation rates for infants conceived through ART compared with NC children (Rimm et al, 2004;Hansen et al, 2005;Wen et al, 2012).…”

Assisted Reproductive Technology and Congenital Malformations

“…ART was specifically associated with significant increases in the odds of malformations of the outflow tracts and ventriculoarterial connections (adjusted OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2âȂŞ2.4) and of cardiac neural crest defects and double outlet right ventricle (adjusted OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1âȂŞ2.7) (Tararbit et al, 2011). A retrospective cohort study again found a higher rate of cardiovascular malformations in infants conceived by ART than controls (Wen et al, 2010).…”

“…A recent study from Paris found cases of congenital heart disease were more likely to have been conceived using ART (Tararbit et al, 2011). ART was specifically associated with significant increases in the odds of malformations of the outflow tracts and ventriculoarterial connections (adjusted OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2âȂŞ2.4) and of cardiac neural crest defects and double outlet right ventricle (adjusted OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1âȂŞ2.7) (Tararbit et al, 2011).…”

Almanac 2012: Congenital heart disease. The national society journals present selected research that has driven recent advances in clinical cardiology

“…3 The higher risk varied with the method of assisted reproductive technique and the type of cardiac abnormality. The authors speculate that this may be due to the reproductive technology or to the underlying reason for infertility of the couple.…”