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The Possible Role of Antiovary Antibodies in Repeated In Vitro Fertilization Failures
Author(s) -
Geva Eli,
Fait Gideon,
LernerGeva Liat,
Lessing Joseph B.,
Swartz Tamar,
Wolman Igal,
Daniel Yair,
Amit Ami
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1999.tb00104.x
Subject(s) - immunosuppression , prednisone , in vitro fertilisation , medicine , embryo transfer , ovulation induction , autoantibody , ovulation , antibody , pregnancy , immunology , hormone , biology , genetics
Geva E, Fait G, Lerner‐Geva L, Lessing JB, Swart: T, Wolman I, Daniel Y, Amit A. The possible role of antiovary antibodies in repeated in vitro fertilization failures. AJRI 1999; 42:292–296 © Munksgaard, Copenhagen PROBLEM: The study was conducted to investigate the possible role of circulating ovarian autoantibodies (ov‐ab) in patients with repeated in vitro fertilization‐embryo transfer (IVF‐ET) failure and to evaluate the effectiveness of immunosuppression treatment in these patients. METHOD OF STUDY: The study group comprised 80 IVF patients who had five or more failed treatment cycles (mean 10.2; range 7–22). The presence of ov‐ab was compared between these women and 1) 50 IVF patients who conceived during the first three treatment cycles; 2) 50 healthy nulligravidae. All participants were seronegative to nonorgan‐specific and antithyroid autoantibodies. Patients in the study group who were positive for ov‐ab were treated with 10 mg/day prednisone starting 1 month before ovulation induction. Embryo grading was compared in the IVF cycles before and after treatment. RESULTS: Ov‐ab were found in ten patients (12.5%) in the study group, compared to none in the control groups ( P = 0.01). Nine of the patients positive for ov‐ab were treated with prednisone for their following cycle. A statistically significant improvement in embryo grading was noted. Three patients conceived after treatment (33%), with a take‐home baby rate of 22%, compared to only six patients (8.6%) who conceived among the rest of the seronegative study group, with a take‐home baby rate of 7.1% ( P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ov‐ab are a possible marker of an autoimmune disorder that may be one of the causes of repeated IVF failures. Immunosuppression treatment may prove efficient in ov‐ab seropositive patients with repeated IVF failures by improving embryo grading and pregnancy rate.