ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODIES IN WOMEN HAVING IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION

Antiphospholipid antibodies have an established association with pregn ancy complications such as recurrent miscarriage, growth retardation, placental abruption and stillbirth but their mechanism of action is un clear, We have investigated whether antiphospholipid antibodies occur more frequently in women having in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and wheth er their presence is associated with the likelihood of failed implanta tion. We studied 240 women undergoing IVF treatment who were less than or equal to 38 years and had attempted fewer than three previous IVF cycles. Antiphospholipid antibodies (anticardiolipin and antiphosphati dyl serine immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M) were present in 36 o ut of 240 (15%) of the study population and were not associated with a failed IVF cycle or miscarriage. There was no association between the cause of infertility and the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies, Antiphospholipid antibodies were not detected more frequently in wome n with previous attempts at IVF compared with women having their first cycle, indicating that the high incidence of these antibodies is not due to the IVF treatment. There was a strong association between the p resence of antiphospholipid antibodies and intrauterine growth retarda tion in singleton pregnancies (P < 0.005). We recommend routine screen ing for the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in women having IV F in order to identify those pregnancies at increased risk of intraute rine growth retardation.