Prospective study to estimate the role of different infertility factors in prediction of unsuccessful IVF outcome

Research objective: in a prospective controlled study to investigate the role of HSP60, GroEl and other infertility factors as predictors of successful IVF outcome. Materials and methods. 106 female patients were divided into two groups: 54 individuals who received conventional treatment for infertility (using ICSI techniques for IVF) and 52 individuals who received conventional therapy with intravenous IgG, enoxaparin and aspirin. All collected blood samples were tested for HSP60 and GroEl antibodies using immunofluorescence and ELISA techniques at the time of admission, after treatment (and before embryo transfer), and after embryo transfer. We analyzed the factors that can be helpful as prognostic parameters to estimate the risk of implantation failure.Results. The risk of implantation failure is predicted when HSP60 level decreases from the first to the second measurement by less than 0.02 optical density units, with a sensitivity of 62% (95% confidence interval (CI) 47.2–75.3), and a specificity of 87.5% (95% CI 75.9–94.8), the positive predictive value was 81.6% (95% CI 68.2–90.2), the negative predictive value was 72.1% (95% CI 64.1–78.8). The GroEl value for the second dimension was more than 0.411 optical density units, which suggests a risk of treatment failure with a sensitivity of 64% (95% CI 49.2–77.1) and a specificity of 85.6% (95% CI 73.8–93.6), the positive predictive value was 80.0% (95% CI 67.1–88.7), the negative predictive value was 72.7% (95% CI 64.5–79.7). The highest (p < 0.05) value was observed at the beginning of treatment, and the lowest (p < 0.05) – during the third measurement.Treatment of the underlying cause of infertility led to a decrease in HSP60 and GroEl levels, which ensured a positive in vitro fertilization result. It was found that HSP60 and GroEl have a strong association with embryo implantation. The risk of implantation failure was strongly associated with twelve factors, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.85 (95% CI 0.76–0.91).Conclusions. HSP60 and GroEl are good prognostic factors for predicting a successful IVF outcome in patients undergoing infertility treatment. The measurement of these parameters during the initial infertility examination may help in the immediate diagnosis of autoimmune infertility. Embryo implantation is a multifactorial process. The risk of implantation failure should be evaluated with multiple factors (twelve factors).

Exploring Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition Signals in Endometriosis Diagnosis and In Vitro Fertilization Outcomes

Endometriosis (EMS) pathogenesis has been related to the release of inflammatory mediators in peritoneal fluid, creating an altered microenvironment that leads to low-grade oocyte/embryos and to the reduction of implantation rates. The Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), an inflammation-related process, can be a further contributing factor to EMS. This study aimed to investigate, among various cytokines and EMT markers (Cadherins, TGF-β, HIF-1α), diagnostic markers of EMS and prognostic factors of in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. Herein, EMS patients manifested higher serum levels of the inflammatory molecules IL-6, IL-8, and IL-12 and a decrease in the concentrations of the anti-inflammatory IL-10. Moreover, biochemical markers associated with the EMT process were more elevated in serum and follicular fluid (FF) of EMS patients than in controls. At the end, the number of good-quality embryos was inversely related to serum IL-6 and EMT markers. Interestingly, serum IL-6 and FF IL-10 concentrations differentiated EMS patients from controls. Finally, serum IL-8 and E-Cadherin levels, as well as FF IL-10, predicted positive IVF outcome with great accuracy. Our data confirm the pivotal role of inflammatory mediators (i.e., IL-6 and IL-10) in EMS pathogenesis and suggest that EMT-related markers are elevated in EMS patients and can be predictive of IVF outcome.

IVF Outcome With High Level of AMH: Focus on Pcos Versus Non-pcos

Background: To investigate whether high AMH level in PCOS patients resulted in different IVF outcomes compared to non-PCOS patients.Methods: A cross-sectional observational study involving 238 women undergoing IVF who have AMH level > 4 ng/ml. Participants then grouped into PCOS and non-PCOS cohorts. Results: The median AMH was significantly higher in the PCOS group (7.59 [4.61] ng/ml vs 5.91 [2.22] ng/ml) (U = 4087, p < 0.001). The PCOS group required less gonadotropin but yielded more oocytes after stimulation. Significantly more participants from PCOS group (41.5% [n=39]) developed hyper-response to ovarian stimulation compared to the non-PCOS group (26.4% [n=38]) (OR = 1.978, 95% CI: 1.138 – 3.488; p = 0.015).Conclusion: Women with PCOS and high AMH levels have a higher risk of hyper-response after ovarian stimulation than their non-PCOS cohorts.

The Use of Androgen Priming in Women with Reduced Ovarian Reserve Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology

Androgen priming with either dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) or testosterone has been suggested as an adjunct to improve in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). Numerous studies have investigated the effects of both DHEA and testosterone on IVF outcome. The results were inconsistent, and the quality of most studies is substandard. Meta-analyses have consistently reported that DHEA does appear to significantly improve IVF outcome in women with predicted or proven poor ovarian response (POR), but these have included some normal responders and/or nonrandomized studies. Our meta-analyses including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) incorporating only women with DOR or POR suggest that DHEA confers no benefit. While meta-analyses of RCTs on the use of testosterone in women with DOR or POR showed an improved IVF outcome, most studies included are of low quality with high risk of bias. When analysis of data from studies of only low-risk bias was performed, such a benefit with testosterone was not observed. Although recruitment may well be a challenge, a large, well-designed RCT is, however, still warranted to investigate whether or not androgen priming with either DHEA or testosterone should be recommended as an adjuvant treatment for women with DOR or POR undergoing IVF.