Antiphospholipid antibodies and pregnancy rates and outcome in in vitro fertilization patients

Abstract

Objective: To determine the relationship between antiphospholipid antibodies and pregnancy rates (PRs) and outcome among IVF patients.

Design: Prospective collection of all serum samples with assays for immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgA, and IgM antibodies for anticardiolipin, antiphosphatidyl serine, antiphosphatidyl ethanolamine, antiphosphatidyl choline, antiphosphatidyl inositol, antiphosphatidyl glycerol, and antiphosphatidic acid being done following completion of all treatment cycles.

Setting: A tertiary care teaching hospital.

Patient(s): Seven hundred ninety-three patients attempting to conceive through IVF.

Main outcome measure(s): Pregnancy rates (PRs) and pregnancy loss rates relative to each of the various antiphospholipid antibodies that were measured.

Result(s): There were 528 pregnancies for an overall PR of 66%. Pregnancy rates were equal among patients with positive and negative antiphospholipid antibodies for each of the 21 measured antibodies. Use of receiver operator characteristic curves and logistic regression further confirmed that there was no relationship between PRs or outcome based on antiphospholipid antibodies for any definable threshold value.

Conclusion(s): Elevated antiphospholipid antibody levels are not associated with any change in PRs or pregnancy loss rates in patients attempting to conceive through IVF.