title: In vitro fertilization for women infected by hepatitis C virus: a matched case-control study and a systematic literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate whether infection of women by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) reduces the chance of conceiving after in vitro fertilization (IVF).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective blind matched case-control study where IVF outcomes for the first 37 cycles of HCV sero-positive women were compared to those of 107 cycles of an uninfected control group. Our results were included in a systematic literature review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of five eligible studies, ours included, three observed an impact of HCV infection, though at various levels including response to stimulation, fertilization, implantation, and pregnancy rates. Two studies differentiated results for patients with confirmed active viral replication. Matching criteria and populations studied varied between studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More and larger studies with well-defined groups are needed to clarify the eventual impact of the HCV on IVF outcomes. Data concerning the infectious status of a patient as well as her health state should be systematically recorded. A multi-disciplinary approach as well as a thorough knowledge of the patient's general health state might prove useful in the management and counseling of these patients in terms of success in conceiving.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, CHU St-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Rue Haute 322, 1000, Brussels, Belgium. Chloe_shaw-jackson@stpierre-bru.be.
authors.forename: Chloë
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shaw-Jackson
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, CHU St-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Rue Haute 322, 1000, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mélissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capraro
authors.affiliation: Data centre, Jules Bordet Institute Université Libre de Bruxelles, Rue Hégèr Bordet 1, 1000, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lieveke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ameye
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, CHU St-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Rue Haute 322, 1000, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vandromme
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, CHU St-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Rue Haute 322, 1000, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Yannick
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Manigart
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, CHU St-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Rue Haute 322, 1000, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rozenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, CHU St-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Rue Haute 322, 1000, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Candice
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Autin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018873:Pregnancy Rate
keywords: HCV; Hepatitis C virus; IVF; Implantation; In vitro fertilization; Systematic review