TY - JOUR
T1 - Premature expression of the decidualization marker prolactin is associated with repeated implantation failure
AU - Berkhout, Robbert P.
AU - Lambalk, Cornelis B.
AU - Repping, Sjoerd
AU - Hamer, Geert
AU - Mastenbroek, Sebastiaan
PY - 2020/4/2
Y1 - 2020/4/2
N2 - Repeated implantation failure (RIF) is a poorly understood reproductive pathology defined by the inability to achieve a clinical pregnancy in at least three consecutive IVF cycles. In this study, we investigated whether the onset of decidualization, marked by prolactin (PRL) expression, is associated with RIF. We performed a retrospective cohort study using endometrial biopsies from women with idiopathic subfertility, that conceived naturally during the same cycle in which the biopsy was taken (group 1; n = 15) conceived naturally within three months after the biopsy was taken (group 2; n = 20), or unsuccessfully underwent six IUI cycles and three IVF cycles with transfer of at least one high-quality embryo (group 3, RIF; n = 20). Our results demonstrated that immunohistochemical PRL-staining was present in 8/15 women from group 1 (53.3%), in 1/20 women from group 2 (5.0%), and in 11/20 women from group 3 (55.0%). Increased proliferation, analyzed by Ki67 expression, was seen in women that were pregnant during the biopsy, compared to all women combined that were not pregnant (p≤.01). In conclusion, our study demonstrates that premature expression of the decidualization marker PRL during the luteal phase is associated with RIF.
AB - Repeated implantation failure (RIF) is a poorly understood reproductive pathology defined by the inability to achieve a clinical pregnancy in at least three consecutive IVF cycles. In this study, we investigated whether the onset of decidualization, marked by prolactin (PRL) expression, is associated with RIF. We performed a retrospective cohort study using endometrial biopsies from women with idiopathic subfertility, that conceived naturally during the same cycle in which the biopsy was taken (group 1; n = 15) conceived naturally within three months after the biopsy was taken (group 2; n = 20), or unsuccessfully underwent six IUI cycles and three IVF cycles with transfer of at least one high-quality embryo (group 3, RIF; n = 20). Our results demonstrated that immunohistochemical PRL-staining was present in 8/15 women from group 1 (53.3%), in 1/20 women from group 2 (5.0%), and in 11/20 women from group 3 (55.0%). Increased proliferation, analyzed by Ki67 expression, was seen in women that were pregnant during the biopsy, compared to all women combined that were not pregnant (p≤.01). In conclusion, our study demonstrates that premature expression of the decidualization marker PRL during the luteal phase is associated with RIF.
KW - Decidualization
KW - endometrium
KW - prolactin
KW - repeated implantation failure
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85070438489&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1080/09513590.2019.1650344
DO - https://doi.org/10.1080/09513590.2019.1650344
M3 - Article
C2 - 31389284
SN - 0951-3590
VL - 36
SP - 360
EP - 364
JO - Gynecological endocrinology
JF - Gynecological endocrinology
IS - 4
ER -