BACKGROUND: Barr body (or) X- chromatin is a heterochromatin mass seen in all somatic cells of
females species. They account to nearly 80-90% in females and 1-3% of cells of normal males. Primary
Amenorrhea a clinical condition is of varied aetiology, however Genetic factors being the major cause. Either a structural or a
numerical anomaly like X- monosomy of a female results in failure of commencement of menstruation. Identication of
chromatin negative condition in patients of primary amenorrhoea constitutes my study. The study i METHODOLOGY: s
conducted on 58 patients who visited Obstetrics Gynaecology clinics Visakhapatnam district with presenting complaint of
primary amenorrhea. Buccal smear examination is done to all the patients and observed under the microscope for Barr bodies.
Photographs were taken and the observations were tabulated and analysed. Absence of Barr Body was ob RESULTS: served in
28 cases (chromatin negative) and 26 cases were chromatin positive and 4 cases showed mosaicism. Primary CONCLUSION:
Amenorrhea due to chromosomal aberrations is a serious condition as it is associated with intense psychological trauma along
with physical. In Turner's syndrome single X-chromosome is present (45XO), the subject is female in phenotype, but the ovaries
are rudimentary (Streak Gonads) and absence of development of secondary sexual characters. So buccal smear is a simple,
rapid test that will enable us to decide which patients are to be referred for further investigations to conrm the diagnosis.
Barr Body
