title: Autoimmune factors in assisted reproduction.
abstract: The present review highlights recent studies that investigated the possible influences of autoimmune factors in reproductive success or failure. These factors include antiphospholipid antibodies, antithyroid antibodies, antinuclear antibodies, antisperm antibodies, and antiovarian antibodies. The majority of recent work has focused on these potential autoimmune factors; however, controversy still exists over indicated testing and treatment options. An association of antiphospholipid antibodies and recurrent pregnancy loss has been established, and treatment with subcutaneous heparin appears most efficacious. Other autoimmune factors are under investigation as markers of in vitro fertilization failure. Limited data from treatment trials are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA. wkutteh@utmem1.edu
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Kutteh
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000276:immunology; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000276:immunology; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000276:immunology; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000276:immunology; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000276:immunology; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000276:immunology; D010053:Ovary / Q000276:immunology; D010919:Placebos; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D000925:Anticoagulants; D001323:Autoantibodies; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010919:Placebos; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D006493:Heparin; D001241:Aspirin