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see Frequency of Prader–Willi syndrome in births conceived via assisted reproductive technology

Assisted reproductive technology (ART), which enables couples having difficulty conceiving to bear children, is not without risk. The technology has been associated with an increased frequency of certain imprinting disorders. Gold et al. studied a cohort of children with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) and found that the use of ART by their parents did not seem to be higher than that for parents of other children. In an analysis of surveys completed by members of the Prader–Willi Syndrome Association, along with medical records, the research team determined that 1.1% of individuals with PWS were conceived using ART, compared with 1% of the general population, an insignificant difference. However, there was a significant difference in the cause of PWS among ART users. In this group, more cases were caused by maternal uniparental disomy (UPD) and imprinting defects than in the general population. The study is the first to report cases of an imprinting-center defect in PWS patients conceived via ART. The investigators suggest that the increase may be explained by the fact that the parents of those in the ART-conceived group were significantly older (mean age 36.3 and 39.7 years for mothers and fathers, respectively) than those of the naturally conceived group (31.5 and 31.6 years, respectively), and maternal UPD is associated with maternal age at conception. The age of parents using reproductive technologies must be taken into account when evaluating the risks associated with the technology. —Karyn Hede, News Editor

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