The Effect of Prednisolone Treatment on Pregnancy Rates in In-vitro-Fertilization-Patients with Positive Thyroid Autoantibodies

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effect of prednisolone treatment on the pregnancy rates of in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients with positive thyroid autoantibodies. Methods: This study was conducted in the IVF unit of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine. It included 158 patients who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection using the long-term protocol of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist that was positive for thyroid autoantibodies. Each test’s reference value was used as a positive measure of anti-thyroid peroxidase and anti-TG antibodies. On the day of oocyte intake, 44 of 158 patients were started on prednisolone, and the other 114 patients were followed up without medication. Results: In the control group, pregnancy did not occur in 67.5% of the patients; it was determined that 21.1% were pregnant, 5.3% had biochemical pregnancies, 4.4% had twin pregnancies, 0.9% had triplet pregnancies, and 0.9% had ectopic pregnancies. In the extended prednisolone group, pregnancy did not occur in 56.8% of the patients; it was determined that 36.4% of them were pregnant, 4.5% had twin pregnancies, and 2.3% had biochemical pregnancies. An increase in pregnancy rate was observed in the extended prednisolone group, while a statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of the mean values of prednisolone according to pregnancy status (p<0.05). It was thus determined that the rate of conception increased in the extended prednisolone group compared to the controls. Conclusion: There is a strong relationship between the presence of thyroid autoantibodies and poor IVF results. The coadministration of prednisolone can improve the clinical pregnancy rate in women affected by thyroid autoimmunity.

The effect of levothyroxine and prednisolone treatment on pregnancy in in vitro fertilization patients with positive thyroid autoantibodies

“…The pregnancy rates were similar among groups. 25 The same study revealed a notable reduction in anti-T and anti-TPO levels among the participants in the prednisolone group.…”

Transient Premature Ovarian Insufficiency Post-COVID-19 Infection

“…The choice of immunotherapy in infertile patients with autoimmune conditions is essential. The mainstay of treatment has included corticosteroids [ 18 ], whereas other immunosuppressive agents, such as cyclophosphamide, can cause premature ovarian failure, rendering IVF less effective [ 19 ].…”