Endometrial leukemia inhibitory factor as a predictor of pregnancy after in vitro fertilization.
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.
Serafini
Paulo
P
Department of Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. pserafini@huntington.com.br
Rocha
André M
AM
Osório
Cyntia T
CT
da Silva
Ismael
I
Motta
Eduardo L
EL
Baracat
Edmund C
EC
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
D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor