Objective: To investigate the presence of FSH-blocking IgG in infertile women.
Design: Retrospective study. Sera from patients and controls were processed for IgG purification, and purified IgG were tested at various concentrations for their ability to inhibit the recombinant human FSH-induced P production in vitro by human granulosa cells.
Setting: Departments of Endocrinology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Caen.
Patient(s): Fifty-seven infertile women including 14 women with premature ovarian failure (POF), 29 women with a poor response to IVF-ET, and 14 women with a good response to IVF-ET. Controls consisted of 22 healthy age-matched women.
Intervention(s): IVF-ET allowed human granulosa cell pooling and culture for FSH bioassay.
Main outcome measure(s): Inhibition by purified IgG of the in vitro recombinant human FSH-induced P production by human granulosa cells.
Result(s): Blocking IgG were identified in only 3 of 14 POF and in 2 of 29 women with a poor response to IVF-ET. In contrast, IgG from women with a good response to IVF-ET inhibited significantly P production, and blocking IgG were detected in 85% women with a good response to IVF-ET.
Conclusion(s): This study identified FSH-blocking IgG in a high proportion of women with a good response to IVF-ET. The significance of this remains questionable.