The Uterine Immune Profile May Help Women With Repeated Unexplained Embryo Implantation Failure After In Vitro Fertilization

Abstract

Labeled problem: Embryo implantation remains the main limiting factor in assisted reproductive medicine (20% success rate). Methods of study: An endometrial immune profiling was performed among 394 women with the previous history of repeated embryo implantation failures (RIF). The endometrial immune profile documented the ratio of IL-15/Fn-14 mRNA as a biomarker of uNK cell activation/maturation (together with the uNK cell count) and the IL-18/TWEAK mRNA ratio as a biomarker of both angiogenesis and the Th1/Th2 balance. According to their profile, we recommended personalized care to counteract the documented dysregulation and assessed its effects by the live birth rate (LBR) for the next embryo transfer. Results: Endometrial immune profiles appeared to be dysregulated in 81.7% of the RIF patients compared to control. Overactivation was diagnosed in 56.6% and low activation in 25%. The LBR among these dysregulated/treated patients at the first subsequent embryo transfer was 39.8%. Conclusion: Endometrial immune profiling may improve our understanding of RIF and subsequent LBR if treated.