Intralipids Therapy To Help In IVF Treatment
Some types of infertility may be caused by a slightly overactive immune system. When this occurs the immune system can attack egg, sperm, embryo and even a developing fetus. This can result in difficulty achieving pregnancy, maintaining the pregnancy, or repeated miscarriages.
Natural killer (NK) cells are regulated by the immune system. In women who have autoimmune issues, the NK cells can react abnormally to an implanting embryo, treating it as an invading cell and signalling for the body to attack it.
Immunomodulatory drugs have not been proven to be effective in ivf via randomised controlled trials. Therefore their use should be cautious and restricted.
Intralipids have been shown to lower the activity of the NK cells component of our immune system. Studies have found that intralipids can help to regulate the NK cells, allowing the embryo to implant on the uterine wall and grow normally. New research has suggested that women who have experienced recurrent miscarriages or multiple failed IUI or IVF cycles as a result of NK cell activation may benefit from the use of intralipids.
Other medications are available such as Immunoglobulin IVIG (IVIG stands for intravenous immune globulin; it is a sterile solution of concentrated antibodies extracted from healthy donors which is administered into a vein. IVIG is used to treat disorders of the immune system or to boost immune response to serious illness, and to treat immuno-suppressed recipients of bone marrow transplants.1 Antibodies are responsible for defending our bodies from pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria.) and Humera (These drugs are used with reproductive immunology patients where there is elevated natural killer activity, both peripherally and in the endometrial tissue.)
We do not encourage or recommend routine use of any of these medications. We would suggest that some patients may benefit from NK cell testing if they have a suggestive history. Only if the NK cell test results indicate a benefit from treatment from immunomodulatory drugs we would then consider treatment.
Published Evidence - Please take a look at our publised evidence pagefor more information Click Here |