|
|
|||||
|
|
5. Immune Factors and IVFto "Why does IVF fail?" main page This is an extremely difficult area to assess with regard to the actual effects immune dysfunction plays in IVF failure. The immune system plays an important role in ovarian function as well as early pregnancy development. Thus, it seems plausible that abnormalities of the cellular and humoral immune system may lead to problems. The problem with these theories is often the difficulty in testing them and the fact that there are hundreds of factors involved with a successful outcome . Can we be sure it is the immune factor? Can one study be replicated by another investigator? Are the studies well controlled and of sufficient size to generate meaningful data? These are just some of the questions we must ask. Some of the factors include anti-phospholipid antibodies, lupus anticoagulant, HLA typing/mismatch, Natural Killer (NK) cells, embryotoxic factors among many others. The treatments may include steroids to suppress the immune system, heparin anticoagulation, immune globulin therapy, or even lymphocyte immunization. Obviously, these treatments are not without risk and may be hard to justify. Ultimately, a conversation with your physician about all of these issues will lead to an informed decision.
|
||||
|
|
|||||
