THE USE OF COMBINED HEPARIN/ASPIRIN AND IMMUNOGLOBULIN G. THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF IVF PATIENTS WITH ANTITHYROID ANTIBODIES.

PROBLEMS: To compare the effect of Heparin Aspirin (H/A) therapy alone vs. H/A in combination with Intravenous Gammaglobulin (IVIg) immunotherapy on IVF outcome in patients who test positive for antithyroid antibodies (ATA). METHODS: We evaluated 82 women less than 40 years of age whose infertility was exclusively related to female causes. All tested positive for organ-specific antithyroid antibodies (antimicrosomal and/or antithyroglobulin antibodies), but negative for antiphospholipid antibodies. Thirty-seven (37) of these women (Group A) received H/A alone, while 45 (Group B) received H/A in combination with IVIg. RESULTS: Ten (10) or 27% of Group A and 23 (51%) of Group B women, achieved live births following completion of a single IVF/ET cycle (P=0.027). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that IVIg therapy significantly improves IVF success rates in ATA+ women.