Prenatal diagnostics
a necessary part of a comprehensive program to prevent the birth of children with severe developmental defects, hereditary and chromosomal diseases.
According to the World Health Organization, about 3,5% of all newborns are born with various defects and developmental disorders. In 1,5% of newborns, disorders are caused by adverse effects during pregnancy, the rest are genetic in nature or caused by a combination of genetic and environmental influences. Congenital defects are often very difficult to correct, so prevention of their occurrence is important.
Prenatal diagnosis of hereditary and congenital diseases is a relatively new section of medical genetics, which emerged in the 80s of the XNUMXth century thanks to the development of such specialties as human genetics, obstetrics and gynecology, neonatology, functional diagnostics, cytogenetics, and molecular biology. That is, prenatal diagnosis is a complex discipline that uses in its practice the achievements of many branches of medical science. In practical terms, prenatal diagnosis is a set of measures aimed at early recognition of deviations in the formation of the anatomical structures of the fetus, as well as functional, molecular and biochemical disorders in its development, which can lead to severe, often fatal diseases after the birth of the child.