1887
  1. Home
  2. A-Z Publications
  3. Qatar Medical Journal
  4. Volume 2009, Issue 1
  5. Article
Volume 2009, Issue 1
  • ISSN: 0253-8253
  • EISSN: 2227-0426

Abstract

Unexplained infertility occurs in many couples of childbearing age, immune mechanisms have been postulated in this disorder for the last few decades. Circulating antibodies against spermatozoa present in serum and seminal plasma have been especially implicated. This autoimmunity against spermatozoa has been investigated in males, while the isoimmunity (in the females) has got low attention. Fifty women with unexplained infertility and twenty fertile women were involved in this case-control study. ELISA test was used to detect antisperm antibody (ASA) from cervical mucus (CM) and serum specimens of both groups of women. CM was collected at mid-cycle period and dissolved mechanically (not by bromeline). Thirty percent of infertile women have IgG-ASA in their serum and 20% have IgA-ASA in the CM, while 22% of fertile women have IgG-ASA in their serum and no fertile women have any titer of IgA-ASA in their CM specimens. Only CM-IgA-ASA of infertile women showed significant statistical correlation with cellular property of CMwhich was scored according to Insler score. It is concluded that ELISA test is more sensitive and specific than microagglutination tests for detection of serum and secreted ASA. Also, secretory IgA-ASA are more indicative and have potential role in immunological infertility as iso- immunity than IgG-ASA. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that immunological infertility should be considered as an important cause of infertility and have to gain a special interest by clinicians.

© 2009 Ali, Flaifel, licensee Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Journals.
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.5339/qmj.2009.1.7
2009-05-01
2024-04-18
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Al-Daghistani. Some immunological and bacteriological factors in infertile women. Ph.D. thesis in College of Seine e- Baghdad University. 1997.
  2. Ali NH. Auto- and Iso immunity in couples with immunologicalinfertility. PhD. thesis in College of Medicine - Al-Mustansiriy aUniversity. 2006.
  3. Best CL, Joseph AH. Immunology and unexplained infertility. Infert Reprod Med Clinic North Am. 1997; 8:4:545–572.
     [Google Scholar]
  4. Bradford Hill A. A short text book of Medical statistics. 11th edition: Edward Arnold 1984.
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Brandtzaeg P, Halstensen TS, Kett K, Kvale D. Immunobiology and immnopathology of human mucosa: humoral immunity and intraepithelial lymphocytes. Gastroentrology. 1989; 97::1562–1584.
     [Google Scholar]
  6. Brandtzaeg P. Mucosal immunity in the female genital tract. J Reprod Immunol. 1997; 36::23–50.
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Butcher EC. Lymphocyte homing and intestinal immunity. In: Orga PL, ed. Mucosal immunology. : Academic press 1999.
     [Google Scholar]
  8. Choudhury SR, Knapp LA. Human reproduction failure I: Immunologic factors. Hum Reprod Update. 2000; 7:2:113–134.
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Eggert-Kruse W, Gerhard I, Hofmann H. Influence of microbial colonization on sperm mucus interaction in vivo and in vitro. Hum Reprod. 1987; 2::301.
     [Google Scholar]
  10. Eggert-kruse W, Tilgen W, Lenhos G, Gerhard I. Prognostic value in vitro sperm penetration in to hormonally standardized human cervical mucus. Fertil Steril. 1989; 51:2:317–323.
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Eggert-Kruse W, Bockem-Hellwing S. Antispern antibodies in cerviacal mucus in an unselected subfertile population. Hum Reprod. 1993; 8:7:1025–1031.
     [Google Scholar]
  12. Gelety TJ, Buyalos RP. The effect of clomiphene citrate and menopausal gonadotropins on cervical mucus in ovulatory cycles. Fertil Steril. 1993; 60:3:471–476.
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Gibor Y, Garcia CJ, Cohen MR. The cyclical changes in the physical properties of the cervical mucus and the results of the postcoital test. Fertil Steril. 1970; 21:1:20–27.
     [Google Scholar]
  14. In: Goldsby RAKindt TJObsome AB, eds. Kuby immunology. 4 th edition 2000;:161. ch. 6.
     [Google Scholar]
  15. Insler V, Melmed H, Serr DM, Lunenfeld B. The cervical score: a simple semiquanitative method for monitoring of the menstrual cycle. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 1972; 10::223.
     [Google Scholar]
  16. Kamieniczna M, Domagla A, Kurpisz M. The frequency of antisperm antibodies in infertile couples- a polish pilot study. Med Sci Monit. 2003; 4:194–201.
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Kutteh WH, Hatch KD, Blackwell RE. Secretory immune system of the female reproductive tract. I. Immunoglobulin and secretory component-containing cells. Obstet Gynecol. 1988; 71::56–60.
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Kutteh WH, Stovall DW, Scott JR. The immunologic diagnosis and treatment of recurrent pregnancy loss. Infert Reprod Med Clinic North Am. 1997; 8:2:267–271.
     [Google Scholar]
  19. Lopata A, Pattulo MJ, Chang A, James B. A method for collecting motile spermatozoa from semen. Fertil Steril. 1987; 27::677.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Marshburn PB. Antisperm antibodies and infertility. Infert Reprod Med Clinic North Am. 1997; 8:2:243–266.
     [Google Scholar]
  21. Menge AC, Medley NE, Mangione CM, Dietrich JW. The incidence and influence of antisperm antibodies in infertile human couples on sperm- cervical mucus interactions and subsequent fertility. Fertil Steril. 1982; 38::439.
     [Google Scholar]
  22. Moghissi K, Sacco AG, Borin K. Immunolgic infertility I: cervical mucus antibodies and postcoital test. Am J Obstet Gyneacol. 1980; 136::941.
     [Google Scholar]
  23. Morgan H, Stedronska J, Hendry W. Sperm/ cervical mucus crossed hostility testing and antisperm antibodies in the husband. Lancet. 1977; 11::1228.
     [Google Scholar]
  24. Strober W, Fuss IJ. The mucosal immune system. Ch. 14 In: Parslow TGStites DPTerr AlImboden JB, eds. Medical Immunology. 10th edition: Lange Medical Books 2001;:204.
     [Google Scholar]
  25. Van Kooij RJ. Solubilization of cervical mucus with bromeline and mechanical means. Int J Fertil. 1984; 29::81–84.
     [Google Scholar]
  26. WHO. Laboratory manual for the examination of human semen and semen-cervical mucus interaction. 4th edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University press 1999.
     [Google Scholar]
  27. Wolff H, Schill WB. Determination of sperm antibodies in human genital secretions by an ELISA technique. Hum Reprod. 1988; 3:2:223–225.
     [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.5339/qmj.2009.1.7
Loading
  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): Antisperm Antibody, Cervical Mucus, ELISA, Mucosal immunity and Unexplained Infertility

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error