Lymphocyte immunotherapy can improve pregnancy outcome following embryo transfer (ET) in patients failing to conceive after two previous ET.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine if lymphocyte immunotherapy (LIT) can improve the outcome after embryo transfer (ET) in women failing to have a live delivery after at least two previous attempts. METHODS: Women failing to deliver a live baby despite at least two previous ET cycles at Cooper Center for IVF irrespective of previous failed ET cycles in other centers were offered the option of lymphocyte immunotherapy prior to their next ET. They were subsequently matched to the very next woman having ET but in whom LIT was never offered or was refused. The matching was based on age, number of previous failed ET cycles, type of ET (fresh or frozen), and serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level. RESULTS: The clinical and viable pregnancy rate was 70.3% and 51.3% for the LIT group vs 45.9% and 16.2% for the controls (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Lymphocyte immunotherapy may help improve outcome following ET in women with previous failures. The data should encourage a larger multicenter prospective study.