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Influence of antiphospholipid antibodies on pregnancy outcome in women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

Lee SR, Park EJ, Kim SH, Chae H, Kim CH, Kang BM

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Problem Antiphospholipid antibodies (APA) are thought to be involved in recurrent pregnancy loss. Therefore, we investigated the impact of APA on pregnancy outcome in women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Method of study Blood samples taken from 54 Korean women referred for IVF were tested for the presence of APA, anticardiolipin antibody IgG and IgM and lupus anticoagulant. The standard gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist long protocol was used for ovarian stimulation. Results Nine patients (16.7%) were positive and 45 (83.3%) were negative for APA. There were no significant differences between the two groups in clinical characteristics such as age, infertility duration, and response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. However, pregnancy outcome significantly differed between the two groups (p < 0.05). The APA positive group and APA negative group had abortion rates of 62.5% and 20.0%, respectively and delivery rates of 37.5% and 80.0%, respectively. Conclusion The presence of APA in women undergoing IVF-ET was associated with a poor pregnancy outcome.

Published 12 December 2006 in Am J Reprod Immunol, 57(1): 34-9.
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