Problem: To study the prevalence of HHV-6 in endometrial biopsies among women experiencing recurrent implantation failure (RIF) after IVF/ET compared with controls.
Method of study: Thirty women experiencing RIF after IVF/ET and 10 fertile women participated in the study. All women had endometrial biopsies taken in the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle for an endometrial immune profile (EIP) and HHV-6 mRNA as well as lymphocyte and granulocyte populations. The prevalence of HHV-6 in endometrial biopsies was determined, and biopsies for positive and negative expression of HHV-6 were compared with the results of their EIP and lymphocyte and granulocyte populations.
Results: Thirty-seven percentage of women with a history of RIF and 0% of controls demonstrated the presence of HHV-6 in their endometrial biopsies. No associations were found when the results of the endometrial immune profile were compared with the presence or absence of HHV-6. Significant increase in neutrophil-specific CD16b mRNA was found in HHV-6-positive samples, and the levels of B cells-related CD19 mRNA were lower in biopsies from women with RIF in comparison with normal controls.
Conclusion: HHV-6 infection is an important factor in RIF.
Keywords: HHV-6; endometrial biopsy; herpesvirus; recurrent implantation failure.
© 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.