C.R. Juneau

Combination of uterine natural killer cell immunoglobulin receptor haplotype and trophoblastic HLA-C ligand influences the risk of pregnancy loss: a retrospective cohort analysis of direct embryo genotyping data from euploid transfers

OBJECTIVE To compare maternal uterine natural killer cell immunoglobulin receptor (KIR) genotype and haplotype frequencies between patients whose euploid single-embryo transfer resulted in pregnancy loss and those that resulted in delivery and to determine if the risk of pregnancy loss was affected by the HLA-C genotype content in the embryo. DESIGN Retrospective cohort. SETTING Academic research center. PATIENT(S) Autologous fresh IVF cycles resulting in positive serum β-hCG during 2009-2014. INTERVENTION(S) None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) 1) Relative risk of pregnancy loss according to maternal KIR genotypes and haplotypes. 2) Comparison of pregnancy loss rates within each KIR haplotype according to HLA-C ligand present in trophectoderm biopsy samples. RESULT(S) A total of 668 euploid single-embryo transfers with stored maternal DNA and available preamplification DNA from prior trophectoderm biopsy samples were studied. KIR2DS1, KIR3DS1, and KIR2DS5 were more common in patients who experienced pregnancy loss. Carriers of KIR A haplotype exhibited a decreased risk of pregnancy loss compared with KIR B haplotype carriers. However, among KIR A haplotype carriers, the risk of loss was significantly influenced by whether the transferred embryo carried a C1 allele versus no C1 alleles. CONCLUSION(S) KIR A haplotype carriers experienced fewer pregnancy losses than KIR B haplotype carriers after euploid single-embryo transfer. However, this risk was modified by HLA-C alleles present in the embryo. High-risk combinations (KIR A/homozygous C2 and KIR B/homozygous C1) resulted in a 51% increased risk of loss over all other combinations.

Sustained implantation rate is not impacted by increasing fragile X premutation allele size

OBJECTIVE: Fragile X (FX) premutation carrier patients are at risk for premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), which hinder the effects of IVF. Recent work demonstrated that FX associated embryology is comparable to controls. The questions that remain are 1) how many patients that present for FX PGD have at least one embryo suitable for transfer, and 2) is the sustained implantation rate (SIR) lower for embryos created from a FX premutation carrier? DESIGN: Retrospective Observational Study MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients from March 2011 to April 2017 from a single IVF center who underwent PGD for FX (with concurrent qPCR-based aneuploidy screening) were included. PGD was performed by a single laboratory that utilized qPCR-based SNP genotyping for linkage analysis. This method determines which embryos inherited the FX-positive maternal chromosome, but cannot determine the size of the CGG repeat in the embryo. Patient characteristics, PGD results, and clinical outcomes including SIR (defined as presence of fetal cardiac activity at 8 weeks of pregnancy/ the number of embryos transferred) were analyzed. Embryos were considered available for transfer if they were euploid and negative for the FX affected haplotype. RESULTS: 28 patients had probes developed for FX PGD and underwent a total of 49 attempted IVF cycles were included. The mean patient age was 31.7±4.8 years. The average CGG repeat size was 100.3 repeats, including 1 full mutation. Due to poor response, 1 patient did not proceed; resulting in 27 patients undergoing a retrieval. 24 patients produced viable blastocysts to undergo PGD. 21 patients had 68 embryos available for transfer, with only 3 patients not producing normal blastocysts. While 4 patients are awaiting their transfer cycles, 17 patients underwent a single embryo transfer. A total of 21 embryos were transferred. 15 patients experienced a successful implantation, yielding 18 ongoing pregnancies. The median number of cycles that a patient underwent was 1.7 cycles. 12 patients only needed 1 cycle to have a successful transfer. The euploid rate per cycle was 68.9%, as expected in this young patient cohort. The SIR for a patient’s first transfer was 88.2%, and overall the SIR was 85.7%. These numbers also suggest that the SIR does not negatively correlate with an increasing maternal premutation allele size, although more patients are needed to fully investigate. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly all patients presenting for PGD for FX were successful in achieving at least one sustained pregnancy. To our knowledge these data are the largest cohort to date of patients undergoing PGD for FX that includes clinical outcomes.

Characterization of reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) fellowship applicants: guiding our mentees toward success

BackgroundAdvanced subspecialty training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) entails a competitive application process with many data points considered. It is not known what components weigh more heavily for applicants. Thus, we sought to study the REI fellow applicant and compare 1) those who apply but do not receive an interview, 2) those who receive an interview but do not match, and 3) those who successfully match.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single REI fellowship program from 2013 to 2017. Academic variables assessed included standardized test scores and total number of publications listed on their curriculum vitae. Logistic regression models were constructed to determine variables that were predictive of being offered an interview in our program and of matching in any program.ResultsThere were 270 applicants, of which 102 were offered interviews. Interviewed applicants had significantly higher mean USMLE 1 and CREOG scores, as well as total publications and total abstracts. There was no difference in Step 2 and Step 3 scores or in number of book chapters. Of those interviewed, USMLE scores remained predictive of matching in any program; however, publications and scientific abstracts were no longer predictive.ConclusionsThe decision to offer applicants interviews appears to be influenced by objective standardized test scores, as well as a threshold of academic productivity. These items are less predictive of matching once the interview process begins, indicating that other factors, such as performance during the interview day, may be more heavily weighted.