Impact of presence of antiphospholipid antibodies on in vitro fertilization outcome

Abstract

Objective To investigate prevalence of antiphospholipid antibody (APA) in Korean infertile women undergoing the first in vitrofertilization (IVF) treatment and to evaluate the influence of APA on the subsequent IVF outcomes. Methods Two hundred nineteen infertile women who destined the first IVF were prospectively enrolled in 2 infertility centers. Male factor or uterine factor infertility and women with past or current endocrine or immunologic disorders werecompletely excluded. Plasma concentration of lupus anticoagulant was measured by clot-based method, andanticardiolipin antibody (IgG/IgM), and anti-β2-glycoprotein 1 antibody (IgG/IgM) was measured by enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay method before starting ovarian stimulation for IVF. Results APA was positive in 13 women (5.9%). Lupus anticoagulant was positive in 2 women (0.9%), anticardiolipin antibodywas positive in 7 women (3.2%), and anti-β2-glycoprotein 1 antibody was positive in 4 women (1.8%). In 193 womenentering embryo transfer, clinical characteristics and stimulation outcomes were comparable between APA-positive(n=12) and APA-negative group (n=181). The clinical pregnancy rate (66.7% vs. 45.9%), ongoing pregnancy rate (58.3%vs. 37.0%), and miscarriage rate (12.5% vs. 19.3%) were all similar between APA-positive and APA-negative group. Conclusion The prevalence of APA is low in Korean infertile women undergoing the first IVF cycle, and the presence of APAappears to neither decrease their first IVF success nor increase abortion rate.