Concentrations of inflammatory cytokines and the outcome in ICSI cycles

The aim of this study was to measure circulating and intrafollicular concentrations of three inflammatory cytokines from women undergoing ovarian stimulation in order to determine their prognostic value in the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection/embryo transfer cycles. Materials and Methods: A total of 72 women following ovarian stimulation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection were included. Blood serum samples were drawn at the day of chorionic gonadotropin administration. Follicular fluids were collected at the day of oocyte retrieval. The total fractions of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 were measured with commercially available immunoassays. Results: The concentrations of IL-1β, both in serum and follicular fluids, were significantly different between ICSI cycles that resulted in pregnancy and those that failed. The concentrations of the other two cytokines did not significantly differ between successful and unsuccessful cycles. Conclusion: The circulating and intrafollicular concentrations of IL-1β seem to be related to the pregnancy outcome in ICSI cycles of healthy women.