title: The Role of Interleukin-18 in Serum and Follicular Fluid during In Vitro Fertilization and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection.
abstract: Cytokines are key modulators of the immune system and play an important role in the ovarian cycle. IL-18 levels in serum and follicular fluid were analyzed in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment. The cohort study group consisted of 90 women, who were undergoing IVF or ICSI. The body mass index (BMI) was determined in all patients; IL-18 levels were measured in follicular fluid and serum. IL-18 levels in serum were significantly higher than those in follicular fluid. The median level in serum was 162.75 (80.21) pg/mL and that in follicular fluid, 138.24 (91.78) pg/mL. Women undergoing IVF treatment had lower IL-18 levels in serum (median, 151.19 (90.73) pg/mL) than those treated with ICSI (median, 163.57 (89.97) pg/mL). The correlation between IL-18 levels in serum and BMI was statistically significant, as well as the correlation between IL-18 levels in follicular fluid and ovarian stimulation response (p= 0.003). IL-18 was correlated with the response to ovarian stimulation and was the reason for successful pregnancy after IVF or ICSI treatment. Among other cytokines, IL-18 appears to be a promising prognostic marker of success in reproductive treatment and should be evaluated as such in further prospective studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel Campus, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, House 24, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6574-1684
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel Campus, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, House 24, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7194-6034
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alkatout
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology Leer, Augustenstr. 35-37, 26789 Leer, Germany.
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fuhs
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel Campus, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, House 24, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salmassi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel Campus, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, House 24, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Liselotte
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6333-5527
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mettler
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Informatics and Statistics, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel Campus, Brunswiker Str. 10, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hedderich
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel Campus, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, House 24, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicolai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maass
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel Campus, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, House 24, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elessawy
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel Campus, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, House 24, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas Gerd
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Schmutzler
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel Campus, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, House 24, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eckmann-Scholz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020382:Interleukin-18