Live birth after ovarian tissue autograft in a patient with sickle cell disease treated by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Abstract

Objective: To report the first case of restoration of ovarian activity and live birth after cryopreserved ovarian tissue autograft in a patient without cancer treated by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Design: Case report.

Setting: University hospital.

Patient(s): One woman with homozygous sickle cell anemia.

Intervention(s): An orthotopic autotransplantation of ovarian cortical strips was performed after freeze-thawing.

Main outcome measure(s): Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue, bone marrow transplantation, ovarian autograft, and restoration of ovarian function.

Result(s): In autumn 2005, biopsy samples of ovarian tissue were cryopreserved before chemotherapy followed by bone marrow transplantation. In spring 2008, because the patient had been menopausal for 2.5 years as a result of the conditioning therapy, an orthotopic autotransplantation of thawed ovarian cortex was performed. The patient conceived spontaneously in a natural cycle in autumn 2008, and delivered a healthy female child in June 2009.

Conclusion(s): Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue with subsequent autotransplantation is an emerging procedure for preserving the fertility of young patients with a high risk of premature ovarian failure (POF) resulting from gonadotoxic treatment. This case opens up new perspectives in cases of nonmalignant diseases.