Polar body diagnosis for hemophilia A using multiplex PCR for linked polymorphic markers

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is usually performed on blastomeres. In Germany, the only possibility to perform PGD is by analysis of polar bodies. We performed PGD using polar bodies in a woman who is a carrier of hemophilia A. Multiplex PCR followed by nested fluorescent PCR for five linked polymorphic markers was established. From 11 analyzed polar bodies, only 1 showed alleles linked to the mutation. The corresponding oocyte was transferred and no pregnancy was established. As seen in other investigations, the rate of heterozygous first polar bodies is surprisingly high.