Ghrelin and reproductive immunology: its association with the success of the assited reproductive treatment.

BELTRAMONE F; ESTOFÁN G; PICCINALI N; TORRES PJ; RAMÍREZ ND; CANTARELLI V; PONZIO MF; MOTRICH RD; SEVERGNINI M; MARTINI AC

CORDOBA

Jornada; XXIII Jornada de Investigación de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; 2022

Assisted reproductive treatments (ART) usually include a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) protocol. This COH, increases supraphysiologically the levels of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4), and it might also alter the plasma concentrations of the immune-modulatory hormone ghrelin (Ghrl). These might exert deleterious effects on women´s uterine immune phenotype.The objective of this study was to evaluate if COH modifies ghrelinemia, and if this change impacts on ART success in general, and immune phenotype in particular.After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 97 female patients were recruited at the Centro Integral de Ginecología, Obstetricia y Reproducción (Córdoba). After signing the written informed consent, patients were divided according clinical criteria in one of three groups: 1) COH (n=35): women with COH and embryo transfer in the same cycle; 2) CET (n=25): women with criopreserved embryo transfer (i.e. in a cycle distinct to that of COH, with physiological levels of E2 and P4); and 3) OD (n=37): women with physiological levels of E2 and P4, but with embryos from donated oocytes. Data were analyzed by ANOVA or Chi-square test, with a significance level of 5%.COH significantly increased Ghrl concentrations at embryo transfer (HOC:3684,2±1544,1pg/ml vs. TEC: 325,3±106,29pg/ml and OD:330,9±70,2pg/ml); also those of E2 and P4. COH showed also, significantly reduced indexes of spontaneous abortions (HOC:7,7% vs OD:28,6% and TEC:63,3%), and higher indexes of borne babies (HOC:92,3% vs.OD:71,4% and TEC:36,4%). Plasma levels of E2 and P4 from patients without spontaneous abortions were higher than those from women with spontaneous abortions (p