Low follicular fluid IL-6 levels in IVF patients are associated with increased likelihood of clinical pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
Relationships between follicular fluid levels of IL-6 with ovarian response and clinical pregnancy were evaluated in IVF-ET cycles.


METHODS
Follicular fluid was collected from ovarian follicles ≥ 14 mm, pooled for each patient, and IL-6 levels were assessed using ELISA (n = 68). Relationships between IL-6 levels and IVF cycle parameters were assessed using nonparametric tests, and between IL-6 levels and clinical pregnancy using multivariable logistic regression analyses.


RESULTS
Significant positive correlations were observed between IL-6 with age (p = 0.035), and IL-6 with estradiol on the day of hCG (p = 0.011). On adjusted analyses, IVF cycles in patients with IL-6 levels <4.0 pg/ml (median value for the group) demonstrated an almost 4-fold increase in likelihood for clinical pregnancy (p = 0.045).


CONCLUSIONS
Lower follicular fluid IL-6 levels in IVF patients are associated with increased likelihood of clinical pregnancy. We hypothesize that endometrial receptivity is a likely target for any deleterious influences of elevated IL-6 levels.
Ankara State Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Tugba
T
Altun
Sangita
S
Jindal
Keri
K
Greenseid
Jun
J
Shu
Lubna
L
Pal
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis*; D016015:Logistic Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D006080:Ovarian Follicle; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies
C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D004958:Estradiol