title: Endometrial leukemia inhibitory factor as a predictor of pregnancy after in vitro fertilization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether there is an association between endometrial expression of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle preceding in vitro fertilization (IVF) and treatment outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biopsy specimens from the endometria of 52 women in the luteal phase were immunostained against LIF. Embryo culture and transfer were done according to standard procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical pregnancy occurred in 39% of the women following IVF, and strong endometrial immunohistochemical staining for LIF was associated with pregnancy (P=0.01). The women with a strong LIF expression had a 6.4-fold higher chance of becoming pregnant than those with weaker intensities (P=0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endometrial expression of LIF during the luteal phase can be used as a predictor of IVF success.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. pserafini@huntington.com.br
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Serafini
authors.forename: André M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Cyntia T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Osório
authors.forename: Ismael
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Eduardo L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Motta
authors.forename: Edmund C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Baracat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor