IMMUNITY TO ZONA-PELLUCIDA IN WOMEN WITH LOW RESPONSE TO OVARIAN STIMULATION, IN UNEXPLAINED INFERTILITY AND AFTER MULTIPLE IVF ATTEMPTS

A retrospective study was designed to assess the presence of antizona pellucida autoantibodies in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) patients in r elation to low ovarian response, multiple IVF attempts and unexplained infertility. Antizona pellucida and antisperm antibodies were determi ned in serum samples obtained from 37 women undergoing IVF - embryo tr ansfer and 20 fertile women. Antizona pellucida antibodies were measur ed using enzyme immunoabsorbent assay. Antisperm antibodies were evalu ated by the immunobead binding method. Three of 10 patients with low r esponse to ovarian stimulation had antizona pellucida antibodies in se rum and one patient had antisperm antibodies. None of the other partic ipants in the study and the control groups demonstrated measurable lev els of serum antigamete antibodies. The results in this small group su ggest an association between antizona pellucida antibodies and subopti mal response to gonadotrophins. It is indicated that repeated stimulat ion and puncture of ovaries in IVF procedures do not elicit autoimmuni ty to gametes.