Follicular fluid concentration of leukaemia inhibitory factor is decreasedamong women with polycystic ovarian syndrome during assisted reproduction cycles

BACKGROUND: The possibility that a specific cytokine profile could be detec ted in the ovaries of patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) was investigated. METHOD: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or bioassay s were used to assess the concentrations of leukaemia inhibitory factor (LI F), tumour necrosis factor, interleukin 11, gamma interferon, progesterone and oestradiol in follicular fluids from preovulatory follicles collected a fter ovarian stimulation from 15 PCOS patients, 15 infertile control patien ts with regular cycles, and 8 oocyte donors. RESULTS: LIF and progesterone concentrations were significantly lower in the follicular fluid of PCOS pat ients (LIF median: 265 pg/ml) compared with controls (LIF median: 816 pg/ml ); LIF and progesterone follicular fluid concentrations were correlated (r = 0.720, P = 0.0001). The LH/FSH ratio was negatively correlated with LIF c oncentrations (r = -0.714, P = 0.0075). Although the PCOS and control patie nts did not differ significantly in age, ovarian reserve or IVF indication, the implantation rate was significantly lower among the women with PCOS (I R = 9 versus 21%, P = < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The specific cytokine profile of the PCOS patients is probably related to the lower implantation rate since follicular fluid LIF appears to function as an embryotrophic agent.