ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODY PREVALENCE IN PATIENTS WITH IVF FAILURE

Antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs) have been associated with reproduct ive wastage. The purpose of this study was to establish the prevalence of APAs in women who have had at least 12 embryos transferred during several in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles without ensuing pregnancy. Sera from 42 women with IVF failure and 42 women who successfully con ceived after IVF were tested for the presence of APAs by ELISA. Succes sful post-IVF pregnancy was determined by obtaining two consecutive ri sing beta-hCG levels followed by an ultrasound to confirm a viable con ceptus. The sera were tested for three isotypes of antibody: IgA, IgG, and IgM against seven phospholipids: cardiolipin (CL), phosphatidylet hanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidic Acid (PA), ph osphatidyl-glycerol (PG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and phosphatidyl-s erine (PS). From the IVF failure group, 11/42 (26.2%) were positive fo r APAs. From the control group, 2/42 (4.8%) were found positive only f or IgA against PE. The difference between IVF failure and successful I VF groups was significant (P=0.01). These results suggest that antipho spholipid antibodies should be considered an important marker for incr eased risk of IVF failure. Patients who are involved with an NF progra m should be tested for the presence of APAs prior to initiation of an IVF cycle.