Effect of therapy on infertile couples with antisperm antibodies.
One hundred seventy-eight couples with positive antisperm antibody titers in serum and genital secretions were offered treatment with prednisone. Of 60 couples who received prednisone only, 43% conceived. Of 25 who had no therapy, 48% conceived. Fifty-four patients treated with prednisone received additional therapy and 31% conceived. Ten of 39 patients not treated with prednisone but receiving other therapies conceived. Cytotoxic antibodies were reduced in 30% to 42% of serum samples and in 24% to 33% of genital secretion samples. In those couples with decreased cytotoxic antibodies pregnancy rates were 40% to 60% compared with 0% to 23% in those with decreased hemagglutinating antibody titers. Our data suggest that prednisone did not improve overall pregnancy rates; pregnancy rates were comparable in both groups treated with other therapies; donor insemination was the most successful of the alternative therapies; reduction of cytotoxic antibody titers after prednisone treatment was associated with increased pregnancy rates.
Smarr
S C
SC
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27514.
Wing
R
R
Hammond
M G
MG
D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000276:immunology; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000628:therapy*; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology; D007316:Insemination, Artificial, Heterologous; D007317:Insemination, Artificial, Homologous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012661:Semen / Q000276:immunology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D011241:Prednisone