Circulating autoimmune antibodies may be responsible for implantation failure in in vitro fertilization

E. Geva, Y. Yaron, J. B. Lessing, I. Yovel, N. Vardinon, M. Burke, A. Amit*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

96 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the role of autoimmune factors as a possible cause for implantation failure as manifested by chemical pregnancy after IVF and ET. Design: Anticardiolipin, anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), antinuclear antibody, lupus anticoagulant, and rheumatoid factor serum levels were examined in patients with chemical pregnancies and in matched controls. Setting: An IVF unit, university-based IVF program. Patients: The study group included 21 patients who had had one or more chemical pregnancies and no deliveries. The control group consisted of 21 patients who had conceived and delivered after IVF-ET treatment, without any history of fetal wastage, matched for age, type and duration of infertility, and number of previous IVF cycles. Results: The incidence of circulating autoimmune antibodies in the study group was 33.3% (7/21). Three patients (14.2%) were positive for anticardiolipin, two (9.5%) were positive for anti-dsDNA, one (4.7%) for antinuclear factor, and one (4.7%) for rheumatoid factor. Autoimmune antibodies were not detected in any of the control group. Conclusion: Autoimmunity may play a role in implantation failure in IVF-ET. Circulating autoimmune antibody screening is therefore recommended after chemical pregnancy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)802-806
Number of pages5
JournalFertility and Sterility
Volume62
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1994
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • IVF-ET
  • anticardiolipin
  • autoantibodies
  • autoimmune disease
  • chemical pregnancy

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