REPEATED IMPLANTATION FAILURES AND MACROPHAGE CULTURE

 WHAT IS A MACROPHAGE CELL?

Macrophages are part of the innate immune system. They are cells responsible for destroying foreign pathogens or foreign bodies in the body. They form the basic monocyte group, which is effective in the general defense mechanisms of the immune system.

 MACROPHAGES IN RECURRENT PREGNANCY FAILURES

In IVF treatments, embryos are sometimes perceived as foreign agents by the mother's body and are targeted for destruction by the immune system. As a result of this immune response, pregnancy may be completely prevented or may result in miscarriage. Macrophage vaccination is used to suppress and halt this immune response.

HOW IS THE MACROPHAGE VACCINE ADMINISTERED?

Blood samples are taken from female patients with recurrent pregnancy failure, and the patient's own monocyte cells are cultured and multiplied into macrophage cells. The macrophage culture is studied. The culture period is 8 to 10 days on average. The macrophage vaccine is administered into the uterus via a catheter one day before embryo transfer. These cells suppress the immune system within the uterus, preventing the embryos from being recognized as foreign bodies by the uterus, thereby ensuring that the embryos are retained in the uterus and increasing the chances of a successful pregnancy. This procedure is also expected to be beneficial in patients who have had repeated miscarriages.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR MACROPHAGE VACCINATION?

It can be applied to cases that have experienced at least two pregnancy losses after high-quality embryo transfer, cases with extremely high immunity, cases with recurrent pregnancy loss, and groups with unexplained infertility.

FLOW-KIR TEST (Measurement of KIR Gene Activity)

What are KIR genes? How do they contribute to IVF success?  

Natural killers The primary purpose of these cells, also known as natural killer cells, is to detect and eliminate cells that should not be present in the body, such as infectious agents or cancer cells. If this system responds excessively, it may recognize the embryo or fetus as a foreign object, causing miscarriage or preventing pregnancy.

WORKING PRINCIPLE

With this method, antibodies specific to NK and KIR cells are used to separate cells that play important roles in the immune system from a blood sample taken from the mother using a flow cytometer. These cells are analyzed to determine the amount of CD16, CD56, CD8, CD158a, and CD3 positive cells.

FLOWCYTOMETRIC BREAKAGE TEST WHO SHOULD HAVE IT DONE?

It can be used in cases of recurrent miscarriages, unexplained infertility, repeated IVF failure, and immunological infertility.

It is a guide for macrophage vaccination.