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Repeated implantation failure: a new potential treatment option
Author(s) -
Makrigiannakis Antonis,
BenKhalifa Moncef,
Vrekoussis Thomas,
Mahjub Sami,
Kalantaridou Sophia N.,
Gurgan Timur
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/eci.12417
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , decidualization , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , in vitro fertilisation , pregnancy rate , embryo transfer , hormone , randomized controlled trial , obstetrics , gynecology , uterus , biology , biochemistry , genetics , in vitro
Abstract Background Previous studies have shown that the intrauterine administration of peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMC ) may improve pregnancy outcome of women with repeated implantation failure ( RIF ). We have demonstrated that, during implantation , corticotropin‐releasing hormone ( CRH ) plays a key role in facilitating endometrial decidualization and maternal–foetal immunotolerance. In the present preliminary study, we investigated whether the intrauterine administration of autologous CRH ‐treated PBMC can improve clinical pregnancy rates of women with RIF . Methods Forty‐five ( n = 45) women with at least three failed in vitro fertilization ( IVF ) attempts and no previously reported clinical pregnancy were included in this crossover study. All women underwent controlled ovarian stimulation using the long Gn RH agonist protocol. PBMC were isolated at day of oocyte retrieval, treated with CRH and administered in the uterine cavity at day 2, following oocyte retrieval. Blastocyst transfer was performed on day 5. Results Following the CRH ‐ PBMC intrauterine administration, a significant increase was observed in the clinical pregnancy rate of this cohort of women with RIF (20/45 women had a clinical pregnancy; 44·44%, P < 10 −3 ) compared to the previous null clinical pregnancy rate prior to the intervention. Conclusion The current findings support a possible role for the intrauterine administration of autologous CRH ‐treated PBMC in treating women with RIF . Further randomized controlled trials are needed to investigate the efficacy of this intervention.