The prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies and effects on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization

Abstract

Introduction: The problem of infertility is common worldwide. IVF remains the most widely used technique of assisted reproductive technology. Embryo implantation failure is a common cause of unexplained infertility and recurrent miscarriages, thus the relationship between antiphospholipid antibodies and embryo implantation failure after IVF and embryo transfer is an important problem in fertility medicine that must be studied. Patients and methods: A retrospective and prospective (bidirectional) cohort study were conducted at the Laboratory Department of the Faculty of Medicine, and Hospital from June 2017 to June 2021. The sample size was 1000 participants, 900 of them were retrospective (2017–2020), and 100 were prospective (2020–2021). Data was collected, including patients’ demographics, type and duration of fertility, and antiphospholipid antibody values. Inclusion criteria-Women <40 years old, undergoing IVF, and in the retrospective study, patients who undergo IVF and who have antibody data, positivity of phospholipids, and/or anticardiolipin, and/or B2 glycoprotein I, and the presence of the gestational sac on ultrasound as a criterion for pregnancy. We performed a PTT LA for the control group in a cohort study (20 healthy women), then a PTT LA test, and the blending test were performed, and the values were considered positive if the correction was not made. The PTT LA test is a screening test. Results: The average age of the women was 31.91, the success rate of assisted fertilization in inducing pregnancy in the last trial was 52.8%, the prevalence was 4.4% of anticardiolipin IgG, 2.6% of anticardiolipin IgM, and 4% of Lupus anticoagulant. No relation was found between the antiphospholipid value and the age of the women, the number of times the experiment was conducted, the rate of success and failure, the type of infertility, and the number of oocytes induction, while the duration of sterility was affected by positive values of IgG and lupus coagulant antibodies. Conclusion: There is no need for a routine antiphospholipid assay for female candidates for IVF, and when it is confirmed, treatment is required by Anticoagulants.