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Pregnancy and Multiple Gestations

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Chimerism

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Abstract

Chimerism in medicine refers to harboring cells or DNA that are genetically disparate, having arisen from two separate entities, such as two zygotes or two fetuses. When the amount of at least one cell line is small, it is called microchimerism, or Mc. Microchimerism in pregnancy is common between fetus and mother and between twins, and the chimerism can be long-lasting. When assisted reproductive technology is employed, chimerism appears to be more common than otherwise in dizygotic twins. This chapter reviews postulated mechanisms and health effects of chimerism that can result. It is important to recognize chimerism as a potential confounding factor in checking zygosity during and after pregnancy, as this chapter illustrates.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Medical Genetics, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Linda Marie Randolph MD

  2. Los Angeles Fetal Surgery, Pasadena, CA, USA

    Ramen H. Chmait MD

  3. Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, and Surgery, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Pasadena, CA, USA

    Ramen H. Chmait MD

Authors
  1. Linda Marie Randolph MD
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  2. Ramen H. Chmait MD
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Correspondence to Ramen H. Chmait MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA

    Nicole L. Draper

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Randolph, L.M., Chmait, R.H. (2018). Pregnancy and Multiple Gestations. In: Draper, N. (eds) Chimerism. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89866-7_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89866-7_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-89865-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-89866-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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