Aims: The repeated implantation failure (RIF) with unknown cause is one of the important problems in the IVF treatment process. Due to the importance of immunological factors, it seems that modulating the immune system through methods such as lymphocyte immunotherapy (LIT) is an appropriate strategy for embryo receptivity. The objective of this study was to determine the success rate of LIT in patients with a history of frequent IVF failure with unknown cause.
Materials & Methods: This interventional; non-experimental study conducted on 61 patients (infertile) with 2 or more IVF failure, in Sarem women's hospital (Tehran, Iran) over a period of 2 years from the beginning of 2010 to 2012. The women were selected for LIT that their cross-match test was negative for antipaternal cytotoxic antibody (APCA). Data were analyzed using SPSS 13 software.
Findings: The mean numbers of transferred embryos were 3.17 and 1.5 for fresh and frozen embryos, respectively. The pregnancy rate per LIT cycle was 31.1%. The success rate in terms of full-term births per LIT cycle was generally estimated as 26.23%. There was no significant relationship between the positive results of β-HCG test with the duration of infertility, number of acquired follicles, frozen embryo transfer (FET) or embryo transfer (ET).
Conclusion: Lymphocyte immunotherapy can be used as a suitable treatment option for patients with frequent failure in IVF with unknown cause.