According to American reproductive experts, Edward’s syndrome is a relatively common chromosomal disorder and is a genetic disease. It is most commonly caused by a genetic mutation resulting in an extra chromosome 18, leading to a trisomy of chromosome 18. The typical manifestations include delayed fetal development, intellectual disabilities, incomplete heart development, and other symptoms. Some children may also have severe deformities at birth. Some cases of Edward’s syndrome can be detected through Down syndrome screening. Once diagnosed, early induction of labor is recommended. If prenatal diagnosis is inaccurate, there is a risk of giving birth to a child with Edward’s syndrome, leading to deficiencies in self-care and learning abilities, compromising the quality of life. Currently, there is no cure for Edward’s syndrome, making it a burden for any family it affects.

Causes of Edward’s syndrome:

1. Genetic factors: The main genetic mechanism of trisomy 18 in Edward’s syndrome is the failure of chromosome separation in the mother’s egg during meiosis, resulting in an extra chromosome 18. If the mother carries this abnormal egg, there is a 50% chance of the child being affected.

2. Advanced maternal age: The optimal reproductive age for women is 23-29 years, with a recommendation not to exceed 35 years. After 35, ovarian function and hormone levels decline, and the irreversible reduction in follicle reserves makes conception less likely. Additionally, there is an increased risk of chromosome abnormalities due to aging eggs, affecting embryo quality.

3. Maternal smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke: Prenatal exposure to smoking or secondhand smoke may lead to Edward’s syndrome. Toxic substances in cigarettes can damage egg quality, causing chromosomal abnormalities and affecting fetal development. Quitting smoking and avoiding alcohol are recommended during preconception and pregnancy.

4. Medication: Taking certain medications during pregnancy, such as anti-tumor drugs and antiepileptic drugs, may adversely affect the fetus, increasing the risk of Edward’s syndrome.

5. Viral infections: Viral infections in early pregnancy, such as rubella virus and cytomegalovirus, can affect embryonic development, leading to Edward’s syndrome.

Can IVF technology avoid the birth of children with Edward’s syndrome?

The answer from American experts is yes. IVF technology can avoid the transmission of genetic diseases to offspring through chromosomal abnormality screening and genetic diagnosis. Only through the use of advanced IVF techniques such as Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS) and Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) can the occurrence of Edward’s syndrome be prevented. Customized IVF plans are designed based on the couple’s physical condition and reproductive needs. Ovarian stimulation is used to obtain multiple mature and high-quality eggs, which are fertilized with healthy sperm using ICSI. The resulting embryos are cultured for five days, and then cells from the outer layer of the embryos are safely extracted. PGS/PGD technology is then used to test for genetic abnormalities, eliminating embryos with chromosomal abnormalities and harmful gene mutations, including those causing Edward’s syndrome. This process helps prevent the transmission of nearly 300 genetic diseases to future offspring, ensuring a healthy pregnancy.

入周前美国专家会根据夫妇身体条件和生育需求来量身定制试管方案，美国专家通过安全用药引导卵巢多排卵，获得多颗成熟优质卵子后，运用ICSI技术将洗涤优选的健康丈夫精子注入卵母细胞中，接着将受精卵置于世界高端胚胎实验室中培育五天，形成细胞数目过百、体积大、生命力顽强、结构清晰稳定的囊胚，通过对囊胚外围细胞(未来发育成胎盘的部分)进行安全提取后，运用美国三代试管PGS/PGD技术进行基因检测，淘汰存在染色体异常和携带不良基因突变的囊胚，阻隔包括爱德华氏综合征在内的近300种遗传性疾病对未来胎儿的传续，实现健康生育目的。