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.


METHODS
A retrospective clinical study.


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


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


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


METHODS
Pregnancy and implantation rates with IVF-ET.


RESULTS
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).


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Hasegawa
I
I
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University School of Medicine, Japan.
Yamanoto
Y
Y
Suzuki
M
M
Murakawa
H
H
Kurabayashi
T
T
Takakuwa
K
K
Tanaka
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000097:blood; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D011239:Prednisolone; D001241:Aspirin