EARLY PREGNANCY LOSS: INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF PROGESTERONE-INDUCED BLOCKING FACTOR

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Immunology of Pregnancy

Background:

• Early pregnancy loss (EPL) affects both naturally conceived and in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancies.
• Accurate diagnostic and prognostic markers for EPL are crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of Progesterone-Induced Blocking Factor (PIBF) in Early Pregnancy Loss (EPL).
• To compare PIBF and Progesterone (PG) levels in naturally conceived and IVF pregnancies with different outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Prospective and retrospective study involving 50 naturally conceived and 36 IVF women.
• Measurement of beta human Chorionic Gonadotropin (βhCG), PIBF, and Progesterone (PG) levels.
• Categorization into progressive pregnancy, EPL, and biochemical pregnancy (BP) groups.

Main Results:

• PIBF and Progesterone (PG) levels were higher in progressive pregnancies and lower in biochemical pregnancies (BP) for both conception groups.
• PIBF levels did not significantly differ between EPL and BP groups.
• Progesterone (PG) levels were significantly lower in the BP group compared to other groups.

Conclusions:

• PIBF is a more informative prognostic indicator for early pregnancy loss (EPL), including preclinical stages.
• Progesterone (PG) is more valuable for diagnosing clinical pregnancy.