Exploring the effectiveness of endometrial receptivity array and immune profiling in patients with multiple implantation failure:A retrospective cohort study based on propensity score matching

J Reprod Immunol. 2024 Jun:163:104218. doi: 10.1016/j.jri.2024.104218. Epub 2024 Feb 17.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the endometrial receptivity array (ERA), endometrial immune profiling, and a combination of both in improving the pregnancy outcomes for multiple implantation failure patients. According to patients' willingness, 1429 women who incurred at least two or more consecutive implantation failures in IVF/ICSI treatment opted for frozen embryo transfer and were divided into four groups: 'No test', 'Immune Profiling', 'ERA' and 'ERA+ Immune Profiling'. Women in three test groups underwent timed endometrial biopsy for ERA, immune profiling, a combination of both. We observed the overall incidence rates of the displaced window of implantation (WOI) and endometrial immune dysregulation were 75.14% and 79.29%, respectively. After 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), our data revealed that the 'ERA' and 'ERA + Immune Profiling' groups demonstrated significantly higher rates of biochemical, clinical, ongoing pregnancy, and implantation compared to the 'No test' group (p < 0.01). The 'Immune Profiling' group showed a higher implantation rate compared to 'No test' group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, when comparing three test groups, the 'ERA + Immune Profiling' group exhibited notably higher rates of clinical and ongoing pregnancy compared to the 'Immune Profiling' group (p < 0.017). However, there was no association between endometrial immune profiling and ERA phases, and their results did not differ between embryo implantation and non-implantation in these patients. Our findings underline the increased implantation rates by use of ERA and endometrial immune profiling in patients with multiple implantation failure, either individually or corporately. Moreover, a combination of both could improve their pregnancy outcomes significantly.

Keywords: IVF/ICSI; embryo implantation; endometrial immune profiling; endometrial receptivity array (ERA); mutiple implantation failure; pregnancy.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Embryo Implantation* / immunology
  • Embryo Transfer* / methods
  • Endometrium* / immunology
  • Endometrium* / pathology
  • Female
  • Fertilization in Vitro* / methods
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Pregnancy Rate
  • Propensity Score*
  • Retrospective Studies