Neutrophils and IL-12 Levels in Female Patients with Unexplained Infertility

To evaluate the levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12), a critical cytokine for NK cells, and hemogram parameters in infertile women with unknown causes.

Descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty of Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkiye, between January and December 2022.

The study included 43 female patients aged 22-49 years with unexplained infertility who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, along with 40 healthy control females from the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. The sandwich ELISA method, which depends on antigen-antibody reactivity, was utilised to quantify serum IL-12 levels, and data were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Complete blood cell parameters were also investigated.

There was no significant difference in serum IL-12 levels between the Control and Unexplained infertile (UI) groups (median: 16.51, IQR: 14.58 - 21.43 vs. median: 15.92, IQR: 14.4 - 25.47; p = 0.623, respectively). Sedimentation and CRP levels did not show significant differences between the groups (p = 0.327 and 0.320, respectively). There was also no statistically significant difference in total leucocyte count (p = 0.114). The UI Group had a substantially higher neutrophil percentage (median: 62.45, IQR: 56.93 - 68.28 vs. median: 58.75, IQR: 52.08 - 64.48); p = 0.017) and absolute neutrophil count (5164.4 ± 1483.29/µl vs. 4408.55 ± 1153.3/ µl; p = 0.012) compared to the Control group.

While IL-12 levels did not significantly differ among ladies with unexplained infertility, there was a notable increase in the percentage and number of neutrophils.

Infertility, Interleukin-12 (IL-12), Cytokine, Neutrophil.