In a nutshell
This study examined if granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) can help infertile patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) become pregnant. This study concluded that clinical pregnancy rates were higher in patients who were given G-CSF, especially those who had repeated implantation failure (RIF).
Some background
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a drug that increases some types of blood cells. It may help embryo implantation in the womb. This is the stage of pregnancy when the embryo attaches to the womb. Repeated implantation failure (RIF) is when embryo implantation fails, after three IVF cycles with embryo transfer (IVF-ET).
Many studies have been carried out using C-GSF. The treatment was given in different ways in these studies. Some studies delivered C-GSF into the womb, and others gave an injection under the skin. A clinical pregnancy is confirmed by high levels of hCG (the pregnancy hormone) and on an ultrasound scan. It is still not known if G-CSF can help infertile women achieve pregnancy when undergoing IVF-ET.
Methods & findings
This study analyzed the results of 10 different trials. These studies looked at patients undergoing 1016 IVF-ET cycles overall. Approximately half of the patients received G-CSF and the other half (the control group) did not.
Patients who were given G-CSF were 89% more likely to achieve a clinical pregnancy. This was true especially for patients with a history of RIF. Some patients received C-GSF as an infusion into the womb, and others received an injection under the skin. The success rates for both of these groups was similar. However, G-CSF did not improve the rate of embryo implantation.
The bottom line
This study concluded that G-CSF may help patients undergoing IVF to achieve clinical pregnancy.
Published By :
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Date :
Sep 19, 2018
