Progesterone-induced blocking factor-mediated Th1/Th2 balance correlates with fetal arrest in women who underwent in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer

• Published in: Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.) Vol. 232; p. 108858
• Main Authors: Lan, Yonglian, Li, Ying, Yang, Xiaokui, Lei, Lingling, Liang, Yu, Wang, Shuyu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.11.2021
• Subjects: Fetal arrest; In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer; Infertility; Progesterone-induced blocking factor; Th1/Th2; Th1/Th2; In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer; Progesterone-induced blocking factor; Infertility; Fetal arrest
• ISSN: 1521-6616; 1521-7035
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2021.108858

The role of progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF)-mediated Th1/Th2 balance in delivery outcomes of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) has not been fully elucidated. In this study, 73 infertile women with successful IVF-ET were enrolled (16 fetal arrests and 57 live births). PIBF and IL-4 levels were significantly lower in the fetal arrest group than in the live birth group (p < 0.05). TNF-α level and Th1/Th2 ratios were significantly higher in the fetal arrest group than in the live birth group (p < 0.05). High TNF-α level and Th1/Th2 ratios were risk factors for fetal arrest, whereas increased PIBF and IL-4 levels were protective factors (P < 0.05). Increased TNF-α/IL-4 exhibited relatively strong predictive value for fetal arrest (AUC, 0.855; sensitivity, 93.8%; specificity, 71.9%). In summary, the PIBF-mediated Th1/Th2 balance is closely correlated with delivery outcomes of IVF-ET. TNF-α/IL-4 may be a predictive marker of fetal arrest.