Research Article
Ebtesam M Kamal and Abber M
Abstract
Aim: To determine the role of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) in predicting the reproductive outcome in infertile couple. Method of study: Uterine flushing and endometrialsamples were collected from infertile women during implantation window with stage I/II endometriosis (n=17), patients with idiopathic infertility (n=24), luteal phase defect (n=16), and fertile control (n=26). LIF was assessed in uterine flushings in all patients by ELISA. In endometrium, semiquantitative RT-PCR was performed for LIF mRNA expression. Reproductive outcome of all infertile women were recorderd. Results: 34.6% of patients included in the study got pregnant. LIF concentration had 96.5% sensitivity and 86.1% specificity at a cut-off point of 2.45 pg/ml for predicting the reproductive outcome. Conclusion: LIF in uterine flushing could be used as a predictor of successful reproductive outcome in infertile women.