Clinical pregnancy rates and experience with in vitro fertilization after uterus transplantation: Dallas Uterus Transplant Study

Uterus Transplant in Women With Absolute Uterine-Factor Infertility

Importance

Uterus transplant in women with absolute uterine-factor infertility offers the possibility of carrying their own pregnancy.

Objective

To determine whether uterus transplant is feasible and safe and results in births of healthy infants.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A case series including 20 participants with uterine-factor infertility and at least 1 functioning ovary who underwent uterus transplant in a large US tertiary care center between September 14, 2016, and August 23, 2019.

Intervention

The uterus transplant (from 18 living donors and 2 deceased donors) was surgically placed in an orthotopic position with vascular anastomoses to the external iliac vessels. Participants received immunosuppression until the transplanted uterus was removed following 1 or 2 live births or after graft failure.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Uterus graft survival and subsequent live births.

Results

Of 20 participants (median age, 30 years [range, 20-36]; 2 Asian, 1 Black, and 16 White), 14 (70%) had a successful uterus allograft; all 14 recipients gave birth to at least 1 live-born infant. Eleven of 20 recipients had at least 1 complication. Maternal and/or obstetrical complications occurred in 50% of the successful pregnancies, with the most common being gestational hypertension (2 [14%]), cervical insufficiency (2 [14%]), and preterm labor (2 [14%]). Among the 16 live-born infants, there were no congenital malformations. Four of 18 living donors had grade 3 complications.

Conclusions and Relevance

Uterus transplant was technically feasible and was associated with a high live birth rate following successful graft survival. Adverse events were common, with medical and surgical risks affecting recipients as well as donors. Congenital abnormalities and developmental delays have not occurred to date in the live-born children.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02656550.

Uterus transplantation: A scoping review focused on obstetric outcomes

BACKGROUND

Congenital uterine anomalies include a wide diversity of uterine malformations that can compromise reproductive potential. Uterus transplantation (UTx) proposes an innovative treatment for absolute uterine factor infertility; however, there is a lack of standardized protocols to guide clinical management among this population.

OBJECTIVES

To describe recipient and donor characteristics and obstetric outcomes in patients undergoing UTx.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We performed a literature search using the PubMed database to retrieve available scientific articles. We analyzed the references of included articles to assess additional articles that could be eligible to be included in the review. Likewise, we identified further studies using other methods, including Google Scholar.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Titles and abstracts were screened in duplicate to select original reports with information available for the outcomes of interest.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

This review assessed the advantages and disadvantages of the techniques used, patient characteristics, obstetric and non-obstetric complications, functional duration of the organ, and neonatal outcomes.

MAIN RESULTS

Among the 36 reports included in this review we found 55 pregnancies and 38 live births following UTx and a higher success rate for in vivo uterine donations. The most common obstetric complications reported included miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, and gestational hypertension. The most common non-obstetric complications reported include episodes of rejection, acute kidney injury, anemia, and cholestasis. Living donors required a comprehensive preoperative workup, decreasing organ rejection, infection, and vascular complications.

CONCLUSIONS

More studies are needed to standardize the UTx procedure and improve obstetric, fetal, and neonatal outcomes. Further understanding of which recipient and donor characteristics minimize complications will significantly decrease the risk of adverse outcomes.

Doppler Flow Indices and Prediction of Embryo Transfer Success and Pregnancy Outcome in Uterus Transplant Recipients

OBJECTIVE

Doppler velocimetry of the uterine and umbilical arteries is used to predict preeclampsia and monitor fetal outcomes. There have been no reports of Doppler velocimetry indices in pregnancies conceived after uterus transplantation, which differ from traditional pregnancies because of different uterine vascular inflow and outflow and exposure to immunosuppressive agents. We sought to examine whether Doppler indices can be used to predict embryo transfer success after uterus transplantation and whether Doppler indices across pregnancy predict fetal growth restriction.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a single-center cohort observational study of 14 uterus transplant recipients who underwent embryo transfer. Of these, 12 women successfully delivered 14 babies. Five Doppler investigations were performed within the cohort: (1) prepregnancy; (2) uterine artery assessment across pregnancy; (3) umbilical artery assessment across pregnancy; (4) successive pregnancies; and (5) fetal growth.

RESULTS

Prepregnancy uterine artery Doppler indices did not correlate with successful implantation after embryo transfer. Uterine artery Doppler indices in uterus transplant recipients decreased across pregnancy as described in pregnancies without uterus transplantation. The umbilical artery systolic/diastolic velocity ratio was lower at all weeks of gestation after uterus transplantation compared with values described in pregnancies without uterus transplantation. In those women who delivered two successive babies after uterus transplant, umbilical artery Doppler indices were significantly lower during the second pregnancy. There was always forward flow throughout diastole in the umbilical arteries, and no babies experienced fetal growth restriction.

CONCLUSION

In our study, uterus transplantation was not associated with abnormal blood flow indices in either the uterine or umbilical arteries. Although Doppler indices were not predictive of embryo transfer success, they supported the expectation that pregnancies after uterus transplantation at our center result in normally grown babies.

KEY POINTS

· Uterus transplantation is not associated with abnormal blood flow indices.. · Prepregnancy uterine artery Doppler indices did not correlate with successful embryo implantation.. · Doppler assessment supports the expectation of normal placentation, fetal growth, and healthy live births after uterus transplantation..

Uterus transplantation: what the world's religions have to say

Uterus transplantation (UTx) has evolved from a purely experimental procedure to a clinical treatment option available outside the clinical trial context, offering women with absolute uterine-factor infertility an opportunity to experience pregnancy. As UTx becomes better established and more widely known and performed, it is likely to be sought out by geographically and culturally diverse patients, particularly those whose religious beliefs impose barriers to other paths to achieve parenthood, such as gestational surrogacy and adoption. Many religions do not currently have official positions on UTx, meaning that clinicians involved in screening candidates can expect questions about how the UTx process aligns with various religious beliefs. This article provides a broad background on the current positions major world religions have taken on UTx (or its components) and the alternative paths to parenthood of gestational surrogacy and adoption. It is intended to help clinicians communicate the information necessary for individuals interested in uterus donation or transplantation to determine-in consultation with their spiritual advisors or religious authorities when needed-how these options align with religious beliefs or teachings.

Endometrium procurement and transplantation restores fertility in rats

RESEARCH QUESTION

Can rat endometrium be successfully procured and transplanted, and can a similar method be used to procure human endometrium?

DESIGN

Rat endometrium was procured using an endometrium stripping method and transplanted into female Sprague-Dawley rats. Macroscopic and histological changes, endometrial receptivity-related protein concentrations and fertility were assessed. Additionally, a preliminary experiment was conducted to procure human endometrium using a similar method.

RESULTS

Endometrium was successfully procured from both rats and humans, which contained intact endometrium and parts of the adjacent inner annulus myometrium. Endometrium auto-transplantation was conducted in rats and the procedure lasted a total of 41.3 ± 5.7 min with a mean blood loss of 0.09 ± 0.04 g. The transplanted endometrium survived well, but a fibrotic zone formed between the transplant and recipient tissue. Compared with sham rats, those with endometrium transplantation had similar endometrial thickness and endometrial gland numbers but reduced vascular density at 8 weeks after surgery. Endometrium transplantation also retained expression of the endometrial receptivity-related proteins leukaemia inhibitory factor and vascular endothelial growth factor. In contrast to non-pregnancy in the stripped horn, a mean of 5.0 ± 2.7 fetuses developed in the transplanted horn, and full-term live fetuses were conceived in the horns with transplanted endometrium.

CONCLUSIONS

Endometrium procurement by stripping method can obtain an intact and functional endometrium, and endometrium transplantation can reconstruct the uterine cavity and restore fertility in rats.

Hypothermic machine perfusion for uterus transplantation

OBJECTIVE

To describe the feasibility of hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) in uterus transplantation (UT) to potentially improve the preservation of the uterus and enhance graft preservation in the donation after brainstem death (DBD) context. Uterus transplantation is a new surgical approach to treating absolute uterine infertility; it can be performed after living donation or after DBD. In the DBD context, the uterus is typically the last organ removed after other vital organs, with the exception of the Baylor team, which removes the uterus first. This key aspect imposes an unavoidable mild temperature ischemia for >1 hour on the uterus during the removal of the vital abdominal and chest organs. In renal transplantation, the perfusion machine reduces the risk of delayed graft function; thus, we hypothesized that machine perfusion could result in a reduction of uterus graft dysfunction. The uterus graft dysfunction could be expressed by a low embryo implantation rate, pregnancy loss, or vascular pregnancy diseases such as preeclampsia or fetal growth restriction." To date, static cold storage of the uterus is the only standard method for preservation before transplantation. HMP is an emerging method that could potentially improve the preservation of the uterus to enhance graft preservation in the DBD context.

DESIGN

This video article shows all the technical details of using the HMP for uterine transplantation.

SETTING

University.

ANIMALS

Porcine model.

INTERVENTION

Porcine uterus was retrieved from a DBD domestic animal model and flushed with KPS MP (Bridge To Life Ltd in UK) at 4 °C. After vascular preparation on the back table, the uterus was perfused using KPS MP through a cannula in the aorta using the VitaSmart device (Bridge To Life Ltd in UK) for 18 hours. Then, the uterus was transplanted to the porcine recipient.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The macroscopic appearance of the uterus at the end of HMP and the assessment of the uterus vascularization after transplantation in the recipient compared with the native uterus.

RESULTS

This video shows the cannulation of the iliac vessels, cooling and removal of the uterus on a porcine model, uterus preservation using HMP during 18 hours, and then UT in a new recipient pig with the reperfusion of the transplanted uterus next to the native, intact uterus of the recipient. The macroscopic appearance of the uterus at the end of HMP appeared viable and was perfectly flushed. The assessment of the uterus vascularization after transplantation in the recipient was similar to that of the native uterus. To our knowledge, we describe here for the first time the UT procedure in DBD context on an animal model and the use of HMP for uterus preservation in UT programs; this could increase the number of uterine grafts available for a greater number of female recipients.

CONCLUSION

Hypothermic machine perfusion could allow the duration of cold ischemia to be prolonged without altering the uterine graft. Nevertheless, this assertion has to be validated in a human context.

Uterus transplantation: from research, through human trials and into the future

Women suffering from absolute uterine factor infertility (AUFI) had no hope of childbearing until clinical feasibility of uterus transplantation (UTx) was documented in 2014 with the birth of a healthy baby. This landmark accomplishment followed extensive foundational work with a wide range of animal species including higher primates. In the present review, we provide a summary of the animal research and describe the results of cases and clinical trials on UTx. Surgical advances for graft removal from live donors and transplantation to recipients are improving, with a recent trend away from laparotomy to robotic approaches, although challenges persist regarding optimum immunosuppressive therapies and tests for graft rejection. Because UTx does not involve transplantation of the Fallopian tubes, IVF is required as part of the UTx process. We provide a unique focus on the intersection between these two processes, with consideration of when oocyte retrieval should be performed, whether, and for whom, preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy should be used, whether oocytes or embryos should be frozen and when the first embryo transfer should be performed post-UTx. We also address the utility of an international society UTx (ISUTx) registry for assessing overall UTx success rates, complications, and live births. The long-term health outcomes of all parties involved-the uterus donor (if live donor), the recipient, her partner and any children born from the transplanted graft-are also reviewed. Unlike traditional solid organ transplantation procedures, UTx is not lifesaving, but is life-giving, although as with traditional types of transplantation, costs, and ethical considerations are inevitable. We discuss the likelihood that costs will decrease as efficiency and efficacy improve, and that ethical complexities for and against acceptability of the procedure sharpen the distinctions between genetic, gestational, and social parenthood. As more programs wish to offer the procedure, we suggest a scheme for setting up a UTx program as well as future directions of this rapidly evolving field. In our 2010 review, we described the future of clinical UTx based on development of the procedure in animal models. This Grand Theme Review offers a closing loop to this previous review of more than a decade ago. The clinical feasibility of UTx has now been proved. Advancements include widening the criteria for acceptance of donors and recipients, improving surgery, shortening time to pregnancy, and improving post-UTx management. Together, these improvements catalyze the transition of UTx from experimental into mainstream clinical practice. The procedure will then represent a realistic and accessible alternative to gestational surrogacy for the treatment of AUFI and should become part of the armamentarium of reproductive specialists worldwide.

Pregnancy management and outcome after uterus transplantation

Uterus transplantation is a novel approach in women whose uterus is absent or severely abnormal. However, it is still an experimental procedure that poses risks to both mother and baby. To date, 32 live births after uterus transplantation have been reported in peer-reviewed journals, with several maternal, fetal and neonatal complications. The most common complications were preterm delivery, hypertensive disorders and placenta previa. Four patients experienced episodes of transplant rejection during pregnancy. The appropriate management of complicated and non-complicated pregnancies following uterus transplantation is still unresolved. In this review, obstetric outcomes after uterus transplantation and optimal management during pregnancy are discussed in light of the available data. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Graft Failure after Uterus Transplantation in 16 Recipients: A Review

Uterus transplantation (UTx) is now an alternative to surrogacy and adoption for women with uterine factor infertility to have children; however, there are still unresolved clinical and technical issues. One of these is that the graft failure rate after transplantation is somewhat higher than that of other life-saving organ transplants, which is a critical concern. Herein, we summarize the details of 16 graft failures after UTx with living or deceased donors using the published literature in order to learn from these negative outcomes. To date, the main causes of graft failure are vascular factors (arterial and/or venous thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and poor perfusion). Many recipients with thrombosis develop graft failure within one month of surgery. Therefore, it is necessary to devise a safe and stable surgical technique with higher success rates for further development in the UTx field.

Uterine Transplantation: Recipient Patient Populations

Uterine transplantation is an emerging treatment for patients with uterine factor infertility (UFI). In order to determine patient candidacy for transplant, it is imperative to understand how to identify, counsel and treat uterine transplant recipients. In this article, we focus on patient populations with UFI, whether congenital or acquired, including Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser, complete androgen insensitivity syndrome, hysterectomy, and other causes of nonabsolute UFI. Complete preoperative screening of recipients should be required to assess the candidacy of each individual prior to undergoing this extensive treatment option.

Genetic Screening and Teratogenic Exposures: Considerations in Caring for the Uterus Transplant Patient

Counseling the uterus transplant patient requires an enhanced knowledge of unique genetic challenges that include an understanding of the spectrum of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome. Patients should understand their options for genetic screening and testing including preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy, genetic screening, and diagnostic testing. This patient population is potentially at risk for fetal anomalies due to the increased susceptibility to infections, such as cytomegalovirus. There are management strategies to minimize this risk. The risk of teratogenicity from mycophenolate is eliminated by a washout period before embryo transfer.

Reproductive Technology Considerations in Uterus Transplant

Uterus transplantation (UTx) provides a new pathway to parenthood for patients with absolute uterine factor infertility. The application of reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization, embryo cryopreservation, and frozen embryo transfers, for this unique population, is particularly nuanced and continually evolving. There are important pretransplant and posttransplant reproductive considerations for physicians and patients anticipating UTx. As with any rapidly evolving medical innovation, efforts to consolidate experiences and knowledge by centers offering UTx is paramount.

Uterus transplantation - donor and recipient work-up

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Uterus transplantation (UTx) is transitioning from an experimental procedure to a clinical treatment for absolute uterine factor infertility (AUFI). Standardized protocols for the evaluation and selection of donors and recipients that maximize chances of success - a healthy live birth - are needed.

RECENT FINDINGS

To date, recipient eligibility has been limited to otherwise healthy women with AUFI who are of childbearing age and are good candidates for in-vitro fertilization (IVF). For donors (living or deceased), selection criteria vary, apart from basic requirements of blood-type compatibility and freedom from critical infectious diseases, but generally require a term birth and a uterus free from uterine pathologies. The stepwise evaluation process for candidate recipients and living donors moves through health screening (medical and psychosocial); initial selection committee review; IVF (recipients only); and final selection committee review. This eliminates candidates with poor chances of success before exposure to unnecessary risks.

SUMMARY

The currently stringent selection criteria for prospective recipients and donors will likely broaden, as UTx becomes more widely available. Continued research is needed to define the donor, recipient and uterine graft factors associated with successful outcomes, and to support the development of standardized selection criteria.

Histopathological examination of the ectocervical biopsy in non-transplanted uteri: A study contributing to the provisional scoring system of subclinical graft rejection after uterus transplantation

INTRODUCTION

Uterus transplantation is a causal treatment for absolute uterine factor infertility. Assessing rejection signs using a histopathological examination of the ectocervical biopsy from the transplanted uterus is common practice in all human uterus transplants worldwide to date. A provisional scoring system was used for the histopathological assessment of subclinical rejection signs in uterus recipients. Here we hypothesized that histopathological and immunohistochemical findings in the normal uteri would differ from the borderline category of subclinical rejection in uterine transplants.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This prospective observational study included ectocervical biopsies of 54 women who underwent hysterectomy for benign reasons. All biopsy samples were assessed histopathologically and immunohistochemically.

RESULTS

Most of the ectocervical biopsies showed clustering lymphocytic infiltrates affecting the stromal-epithelial interface with the epithelial influx of lymphocytes, primarily CD45RO-positive activated T-cells with CD8 T-lymphocyte predominance. CD4-positive T-lymphocytes and B-cells were rarely detected in the ectocervix. These morphological findings and immunoprofiles of lymphocytic populations overlapped with the so-called borderline changes defined in the provisional scoring system for rejection in the transplanted uteri. The immunoprofiles of ectocervical and endocervical lymphocytic populations differed, with strikingly prominent B-cell participation in the endocervix vs the rare detection of B-cells in the ectocervix.

CONCLUSIONS

The histopathological and immunohistochemical findings in the uteri of premenopausal women were similar to the borderline category of the currently used provisional scoring system of subclinical uterine rejection utilized in all uterine transplant studies. However, future similar studies are required to validate our findings.