title: Is aspirin effective in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)? Results from an individual patient data meta-analysis (IPD MA).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aspirin is believed to improve the outcome of IVF, but previous conventional meta-analyses on the subject are conflicting. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis with individual patient data (IPD MA) of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on the subject.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature search was conducted to identify RCTs assessing the effectiveness of aspirin in IVF. Authors were asked to share their original data. In a one step meta-analytic approach, the treatment effect of aspirin was estimated with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using logistic regression, based on the intention to treat principle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Authors of six studies provided IPD, including 1119 patients (562 placebo and 557 aspirin). There were 160 clinical pregnancies in the aspirin (28.8%) and 179 (31.9%) in the placebo group [OR 0.86, 95% CI (0.69-1.1)]. There were 129 ongoing pregnancies in the aspirin (23.6%) and 147 in the placebo group (26.7%) [OR 0.85, 95% CI (0.65-1.1)]. Whereas the conventional meta-analysis limited to studies that could provide IPD showed an OR of 0.89 (95% CI 0.69-1.2), the conventional meta-analysis limited to the eight studies of which method of randomization could be confirmed showed an OR of 0.94 (95% CI 0.76-1.17) and the conventional meta-analysis including all 10 eligible RCTs identified with our search changed the OR to 1.07 (95% CI 0.81-1.41). This difference in direction of effect, derived from the studies not able to share IPD of which quality of randomization could not be confirmed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aspirin does not improve pregnancy rates after IVF.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. e.groeneveld@vumc.nl
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Groeneveld
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Broeze
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lambers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haapsamo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dirckx
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Schoot
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Salle
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Duvan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schats
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Mol
authors.forename: P G A
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Hompes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001241:Aspirin