Embryology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Embryology, including details on stem cells, reproduction, transplants, cloning.

Anticardiolipin antibody levels in women undergoing first in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer.

Caccavo D, Pellegrino NM, Lorusso F, Capotorto M, Vacca M, Vimercati A, Depalo R

Department of Clinical Medicine, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.

BACKGROUND The clinical relevance of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in women undergoing in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer (IVF/ET) and the role of IVF treatment in affecting antiphospholipid levels are controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) levels and the effect of IVF treatment on aCL in women undergoing their first IVF/ET cycle. METHODS Immunoglobulin G (IgG)- and IgM-aCL were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 50 women undergoing IVF/ET, 18 due to endometriosis, 16 to tubal factor (TF) and 16 to male factor, before starting treatment (T0), on the day of oocyte retrieval (T1) and 14 days after ET (T2). A group of 31 age-matched fertile women served as controls. RESULTS aCL levels detected at T0 in patients were not significantly different compared with the control group. IgG- but not IgM-aCL significantly increased at T2 in comparison with T0 (P < 0.001) and T1 (P < 0.05). The difference between T2 and T0 reached statistical significance in patients with endometriosis (P = 0.003) or TF (P = 0.018). No relationship was found between aCL and pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that IVF treatment increases IgG-aCL levels in patients with endometriosis and TF, but their presence seems to have no clinical relevance.

Published 20 August 2007 in Hum Reprod, 22(9): 2494-500.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Embryology Research Today. All Rights Reserved.