Influence of plasmapheresis on anti-ovarian antibodies level before in vitro fertilization in women with infertility

Abstract

Introduction. The study of anti-ovarian autoantibodies in patients with ovarian insufficiency against the background of normal levels of gonadotropins, prolactin and androgens shows that the incidence of autoimmune oophoritis among such women varies from 19.2% to 31.5%. The objective of the study was to study the anti-ovarian antibodies level in infertile women at the preparatory stage for in vitro fertilization. Materials and methods. We examined 30 women, who were divided into the following groups: control group – 10 reproductively healthy women, who had a birth in the history (from 1 to 3); study group – 20 women with infertility of tube origin, who were included in the in vitro fertilization program. The study was performed between 2015-2017 in the Bukovinian State Medical University and Centre of Reproductive Medicine, Ukraine. The women signed the informed consent. Results. The anti-ovarian antibodies level in infertile women was found out to be 1.7 times less than in the control group. Reduction of the level of anti-ovarian antibodies in patients from the study group was marked by the obstetric and gynecological history. Conclusions. Anti-ovarian antibodies are present in both reproductively healthy women and in patients with infertility. The level of anti-ovarian antibodies can be both increased and reduced, depending on the pathological process that caused infertility. In both cases, this fact can testify the infertility. After plasmapheresis, the increased level of anti-ovarian antibodies sharply decreases.

Keywords

• anti-ovarian antibodies
• infertility
• in vitro impregnation.