DETERMINATION OF ANTISPERMAL IGE ANTIBODIES IN WOMEN WITH INFERTILITY AND CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY PELVIC DISEASES

Abstract

Personalized therapy for female infertility means determining of immune mechanisms, including allergic sensitization towards sperm antigens. In order to determine antisperm serum IgE antibodies in women with infertility suffering from pelvic inflammatory diseases, the modified Anti-Spermatozoa Antibody protocol was used (ASA Serum ELISA, Demeditec Diagnostisc, Germany). The modification of the protocol is designed to detect only serum antisperm IgE antibodies carrying Fab fragments to sperm antigens. Allergen-specific IgEs to a common panel of 176 respiratory and food allergenic molecules were determined using the MeDALL scientific chip developed as a part of the European project. Forty patients suffering from infertility of inflammatory etiology and 16 practically healthy women of reproductive age were examined. Specific IgE antibodies towards sperm antigens were detected in blood serum in 7/40 (17.5%) patients with infertility. The maximum level of sIgE was 4 times higher than the maximal value of fertile women. No correlation with total IgE was detected. Women with sIgE-ASA complained of burning and itching immediately after coition. Systemic and long-term allergic reactions were not noted. Women with positive sIgE-ASA values were 2 times more likely to suffer from chronic recurrent vaginal dysbiosis. The presence of specific anti-sperm IgE antibodies is likely to have pathogenetic significance in female infertility, and they should be taken into consideration for creating personalized therapy approaches.