Objectives:

to describe the epidemiological characteristics of chromosomal abnormalities and congenital malformations in Cochabamba.

Methods:

166 patients with suspected chromosomal abnormalities referred from hospitals in Cochabamba were included in the study. Each patient underwent a medical history, physical examination, and chromosomal analysis using a peripheral blood sample.

Results:

Of the 166 patients studied, 79 (48%) had normal chromosomal results and 87 (52%) had some chromosomal abnormality. The most common abnormality was Down syndrome (34%), followed by Turner syndrome (11%), Edwards syndrome (2%), trisomy 22 (1%), Klinefelter syndrome (1%), deletions (2%), or marker chromosome 5 (1%). The distribution of patients between 0 and 1 year of age with congenital dysmorphism was as follows: 10% of newborns up to 7 days, 20% of neonates between 8 and 28 days, and 70% of infants from 28 days to one year. Within this group, confirmed chromosomal abnormalities were found in 43 patients (62%) and normal chromosomal results in 26 (38%). The average age of parents of children with Down syndrome was over 40 years, while for other syndromes it was under 30 years.

Conclusions:

The most frequent chromosomal disorders were Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, and Edwards syndrome. Most chromosomal results were complete or free of alteration in the different syndromes. The mother's and father's age and the number of abortions appear to be risk factors for Down syndrome, and for Turner syndrome.

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