Autoantibody screening for infertility: explaining the unexplained?

Drug intervention in early pregnancy after assisted reproductive technology

Implantation in humans is a complex, closely regulated, highly selective and relatively poorly understood process. Humans have the highest rate of miscarriage in mammals and various pharmacological manipulations have been used to minimize pregnancy losses in both spontaneous pregnancies and pregnancies resulting from assisted reproduction technology. The widespread application of protocols using numerous drugs in assisted reproduction treatment has led to an increasing number of pregnancies exposed to these drugs. The vast majority of these protocols have been based on data from a few observational and often retrospective clinical studies. This paper reviews the recent literature on drug interventions in early pregnancy after assisted reproduction treatment. It is concluded that there are still numerous issues about the safety of most drugs for both the women and their fetus. In many cases, the benefits are theoretical and the possible long-term side-effects are untested. There is an urgent need for more epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials to explore the use, efficacy and side-effects of both old and new drugs in early pregnancy after assisted reproduction treatment.

Reflections on the management of reproductive failure in the antiphospholipid syndrome--the clinician's perspective

It is well known that women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who have antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are at increased risk for pregnancy loss. Additionally, other reproductive processes, such as unexplained infertility and implantation failure after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer may be affected by aPL. Thus, clinical manifestations of the so-called 'gynaeco-obstetrical antiphospholipid syndrome' have been expanded into the concept of the 'reproductive autoimmune failure syndrome'. However, this is still a matter of debate with no general agreement with respect to both pathophysiological significance of the presence of aPL and patient management. This article analyses a number of controversies in the management of reproductive failure potentially associated with aPL in order to help clinicians dealing with such condition in daily clinical practice.

Low molecular weight heparin in immunological recurrent abortion--the incredible cure

The most compelling association between pregnancy loss and autoimmune phenomena has been with the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APA)--lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibody. The 'antiphospholipid antibody syndrome' has been described in women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss or thrombosis with positive APA or lupus anticoagulant on two occasions. Although several treatments have been advocated, heparin and aspirin treatment is emerging as the treatment of choice for the APA syndrome associated with recurrent pregnancy loss. The rationale for prescribing aspirin in cases of recurrent reproductive failure associated with APA seropositivity is that aspirin may counter APA-mediated hypercoagulability in the choriodecidual space, a situation which if left unaddressed would traumatize the trophoblast and compromise feto-maternal exchange. Heparin on the other hand, through preventing APA from interfering with syncytialization of the early cytotrophoblast and by countering APA interference with phospholipid-decidual reactions that are vital to early implantation, might potentially promote both early implantation and subsequent placentation.

Human reproductive failure is not a clinical feature associated with beta(2) glycoprotein-I antibodies in anticardiolipin and lupus anticoagulant seronegative patients (the antiphospholipid/cofactor syndrome)

It has been suggested that patients with clinical features suggestive of antiphospholipid syndrome but being lupus anticoagulant (LA) and anticardiolipin (aCL) negative, should be tested for antibodies to beta(2) glycoprotein-I (abeta(2)GP-I), a protein involved in the binding of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) to phospholipid surfaces. This was investigated in the present study where a total of 385 women aged </=40 years were included. Of these, 175 were experimental subjects and 210 were controls. The former comprised the following two study groups: 100 spontaneous recurrent aborters (group one), and 75 patients with repeated failure of embryo transfer (group two). Controls included three groups of women: 100 normal healthy parous women with no previous abortion (group three), 60 infertile patients achieving a live birth with their first in-vitro fertilization (IVF)/embryo transfer attempt (group four), and 50 patients with recurrent abortion who tested positive for aPL (LA and/or aCL) (positive controls, group five). Only one patient among recurrent aborters (group one) tested positive for abeta(2)GP-I. All women in groups two, three and four were negative for abeta(2)GP-I screening. As expected, prevalence of patients testing positive for abeta(2)GP-I was significantly higher in group five than among the other groups of patients (P < 0.001). No differences were observed regarding the prevalence of abeta(2)GP-I positive sera in the subgroup of patients having aCL and those having the LA in group five. It is concluded that abeta(2)GP-I screening in first-trimester recurrent abortion or in failure of implantation after IVF is not warranted in patients without aPL as detected by standard antiphospholipid assays.

Antiphospholipid antibodies in infertile couples with two consecutive miscarriages after in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer

Of 682 women who had undergone in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with embryo transfer, 84 were successful on two occasions, with 16 of these resulting in miscarriage before 20 completed weeks. Antiphospholipid antibodies (APA) were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in these women (group 1) and compared to two control groups: 42 fertile women with three or more miscarriages (group 2) and 60 women with primary infertility undergoing IVF or ICSI (group 3). An apparently higher prevalence of seropositivity was seen in group 1 women (25%) compared to the group 3 women (6.6%) and it was similar to that seen in group 2 women (21.4%). Therefore the recommendation that women with two consecutive miscarriages after IVF or ICSI should have APA estimations performed routinely may be justified.

Heparin plus aspirin as a "single" therapy for recurrent spontaneous abortion associated with both allo- and autoimmunity

PROBLEM

The aim of this study was to contribute to the study of the pathogenesis and the treatment of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) associated with immune alterations.

METHOD OF STUDY

This is a prospective clinical trial with 11 patients with RSA associated with allo- and autoimmunity not receiving lymphocyte immunizations but only heparin and aspirin preconceptionally and through pregnancy. A concurrent group of 8 patients receiving a complete therapy (lymphocyte immunizations, heparin, and aspirin) but not receiving heparin and aspirin preconceptionally is also included in this report.

RESULTS

The rate of pregnancy success in these patients was 90.9% (10/11), and the rate of success of the concurrent group was 75.0% (6/8).

CONCLUSIONS

The results are in agreement with the working hypothesis regarding the possible final common mechanism in the pathogenesis of abortion associated with allo- and autoimmunity. The "single" therapy with heparin and aspirin was effective, less costly, and logistically simpler to provide than a complete therapy including lymphocyte immunizations.

Antiphospholipid antibodies and reproduction: the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

In women who have a diagnosis of APS (both clinical and laboratory criteria) the chance for successful pregnancy is reduced. In these cases, treatment appears to be a clear option, particularly in the case of prior thromboembolic events. The current preference of treatment for women with RPL and aPL antibodies is subcutaneous heparin and aspirin. This treatment should begin with a positive pregnancy test and continue postpartum. It is unclear, at this time, what treatment, if any, is required for women who do not meet all the criteria for diagnosis of APS, but who are known to have aPL antibodies. In some cases, these women were tested because of a prior false-positive test for syphilis, with subsequent identification of aPL antibodies. More recently, women undergoing IVF were tested and found to have an increased incidence of aPL antibodies. It was suggested that aPL antibodies are associated with infertility and failure to implant. However, a summary of published reports indicate that positive aPL antibodies in patients undergoing IVF do not influence ongoing pregnancy rates. This subject, however, remains an area of active investigation because aPL antibodies were shown to interact with the syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast layers and could, theoretically, after implantation.

Female infertility

This article has provided outcome-based evidence using easily understood graphic representation of cumulative pregnancy rates whenever possible for the methods used to investigate and treat female infertility. A scheme of basic routine investigations in specialist practice is developed and clear guidance provided on the choice of treatment for each couple.

Prednisolone plus low-dose aspirin improves the implantation rate in women with autoimmune conditions who are undergoing in vitro fertilization

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of prednisolone plus low-dose aspirin (PSL/LDA) in women with autoimmune conditions who were enrolled in an IVF-ET program.

DESIGN

A retrospective clinical study.

SETTING

In vitro fertilization unit, Niigata University Hospital, Niigata, Japan.

PATIENT(S)

Three hundred seven women who underwent IVF-ET between January 1996 and December 1997.

INTERVENTION(S)

Prednisolone (10 mg/d) and aspirin (81 mg/d) were administered to the women with autoantibodies who chose to participate.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Pregnancy and implantation rates with IVF-ET.

RESULT(S)

Women undergoing IVF who had positive antinuclear antibodies, with or without antiphospholipid antibodies, had significantly lower pregnancy and implantation rates than did women without autoantibodies (14.8% versus 21.7% and 6.8% versus 10.4%, respectively). The administration of PSL/LDA to women with antinuclear antibodies significantly improved the outcome of IVF-ET (40.6% pregnancy rate and 20.3% implantation rate).

CONCLUSION(S)

A high proportion of women who are undergoing IVF-ET have autoantibodies, which are associated with poor IVF outcomes. The administration of PSL/LDA to these women may improve their implantation rate.

Antiphospholipid antibodies and infertility: fact or fallacy

Some clinicians are convinced that antiphospholipid antibodies, including antibodies to any one of five-to-seven phospholipid antigens, are associated with infertility. Additionally, some clinicians recommend that infertile women who have antiphospholipid antibodies and are undergoing in-vitro fertilization should be treated with heparin to improve the rate of pregnancy. However, experts disagree regarding the relationship between antiphospholipid antibodies and infertility. There is also substantial evidence that treatment with heparin does not alter the rate of pregnancy following in-vitro fertilization. Why the confusion? Probable culprits include variation in study design and the selection of infertile patients. Another important problem is that assays for antiphospholipid antibodies other than anticardiolipin are not standardized. Before the real relationship between antiphospholipid antibodies and infertility is discovered, assays for antiphospholipid antibodies other than anticardiolipin must be standardized and properly designed studies conducted. Randomized, controlled trials must be done to determine if heparin should be recommended as an adjunctive treatment for in-vitro fertilization in women with antiphospholipid antibodies.

Antiphospholipid antibodies and reproduction

The antiphospholipid antibodies (APA) are acquired antibodies against a phospholipid which has been associated with slow progressive thrombosis and infarction in the placenta. Clinical features (venous or arterial thrombosis, recurrent fetal loss, thrombocytopenia) in conjunction with positive laboratory findings (positive IgG or IgM anticardiolipin antibodies, or positive lupus anticoagulant tests) will satisfy criteria for diagnosis of the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). A number of studies report the incidence of antiphospholipid antibodies in different patient populations: normal obstetrical patients (5.3% of 7278 women), women with recurrent pregnancy loss (20% of 2226 women), women with systemic lupus erythematosus (37% of 1579 women) and, more recently, women undergoing in vitro fertilization (24% of 3343 women). As in all autoimmune syndromes it is possible that APA are secondary to some underlying disease or that they are instrumental in the pathogenesis of the various manifestations. The most commonly proposed mechanisms of antiphospholipid antibody induced thrombosis include decreased prostacycline production by endothelial cells, increased thromboxane production by platelets, and decreased protein C activation. More recently it has been demonstrated that certain phospholipids are exposed on the endothelial surface and may alter implantation during in vitro fertilization. Treatment with subcutaneous heparin and aspirin has been shown to benefit women with recurrent pregnancy loss and APA resulting in successfully deliveries of approximately 75%. Several trials of treatment with heparin and aspirin in women with positive APA undergoing IVF have been completed. Although none of the studies were randomized, prospective, blinded trials there does not appear to be a significant difference in implantation rate, pregnancy rate, or ongoing pregnancy rate. This subject remains, however, an area of active investigation as antiphospholipid antibodies have been shown to interact with syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast layers and could theoretically affect implantation.