Zona pellucida autoantibodies in women undergoing ART

The presence of ZP autoantibodies in serum and Ffl samples of 109 women att ending the ART Center in Kiev was investigated using IIF and ELISA, Positiv e serum and Ffl samples examined by both methods were found in 20 (18.34%) and in 19 (17.43%) patients respectively; 31 (28.44%) serum samples and 33 (30.27 %) Ffl samples analyzed by IIF were positive; of the samples analyze d by ELISA 21 (19.26%) and 20 (18.34%), respectively, were positive. No rel ationship was found between ZP autoantibody incidence and the type and caus e of infertility. A significant prevalence of ZP autoantibodies detected by ELISA in Ffl was found in patients with fertilization failure (39.13%) and with low fertilization rate (42.85%) when compared to patients with middle fertilization rate (5.71%) and high fertilization rate (8.1%). The clinica l significance of ZP autoantibodies in Ffls for in vitro fertilization outc ome was suggested.