title: Studies of assisted reproduction techniques (ART) for HIV-1-discordant couples using washed sperm and the nested PCR method: a comparison of the pregnancy rates in HIV-1-discordant couples and control couples.
abstract: In this study, the efficacy and safety of assisted reproduction techniques with the sperm-washing method and nested PCR assay were evaluated in HIV-1-discordant couples, as many HIV-1-positive people of reproductive age are getting married and wish to have children safely. Twenty-seven HIV-1-discordant couples (husband, positive; wife, negative) were enrolled in this study. The spermatozoa were separated from semen samples by density gradient centrifugation and the swim-up method. HIV-1 RNA and proviral DNA were checked using nested PCR with a detection limit of one copy before fertilization and before embryo transfer. Clinical outcomes were compared with those of matched control couples. Thirty-eight cycles of in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection were performed in HIV-1-discordant couples, where the pregnancy rates per embryo transfer and per couple were 60.6 and 63.0%, respectively. These rates were significantly higher than those in control couples (P<0.05). Furthermore, all of the females and babies remained HIV-1 negative throughout the study period. Our data strongly suggest that this technique will allow HIV-1-discordant couples to conceive more safely and effectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata 951-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kashima
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takakuwa
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Mayuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makino
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Hideji
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hanabusa
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D013048:Specimen Handling; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000821:virology*