High fecundity rates following in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in antiphospholipid antibody seropositive women treated with heparin and aspirin

Hum Reprod. 1994 Dec;9(12):2278-83. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a138437.

Abstract

This study was undertaken to explore whether intervention with heparin and aspirin (H/A) in selected patients undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer could improve fecundity rates. Specifically, it explored the possibility that women diagnosed with organic pelvic disease who demonstrated antiphospholipid antibodies (APA) could benefit from H/A administration in a similar manner to that used in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss. We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for six different phospholipids to identify patients who expressed APA before they underwent IVF/embryo transfer. This study was confined to the first IVF/embryo transfer cycle that followed assessment of APA status and accordingly, the number of IVF/embryo transfer cycles corresponds with the number of patients treated. APA seropositive patients were treated with aspirin, 81 mg orally q.d., and heparin 5000 IU s.c. b.i.d., beginning on day 1 of controlled ovarian stimulation. The endpoint for success was a live birth or an ultrasound confirming fetal cardiac activity (a viable pregnancy). The prevalence of APA in patients diagnosed with organic pelvic disease (53%) was much higher than in those without female pathology (14%). The administration of H/A to APA seropositive patients significantly (P < 0.05) improved the viable pregnancy rate (49%) compared to the untreated APA seropositive group (16%). The viable pregnancy rate for APA seropositive women treated with H/A was also significantly (P < 0.001) higher than for untreated APA seronegative patients (27%). We conclude that all women undergoing IVF/embryo transfer should be tested for APA prior to initiating ovarian stimulation and those with APA seropositivity should be treated with H/A.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / blood*
  • Aspirin / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Embryo Transfer*
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Female
  • Fertility / drug effects*
  • Fertilization in Vitro*
  • Heparin / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
  • Heparin
  • Aspirin