Efficacy of low molecular weight heparin in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection
2011; Elsevier BV; Volume: 9; Issue: 12 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1111/j.1538-7836.2011.04535.x
ISSN1538-7933
AutoresFrancesco Dentali, Elvira Grandone, Emanuele Rezoagli, Walter Ageno,
Tópico(s)Ovarian function and disorders
ResumoIn vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) have become widely used techniques. Despite their current popularity, the success rates of these techniques remain low [1Nygren K.G. Andersen A.N. European IVF‐monitoring programme (EIM). Assisted reproductive technology in Europe, 1998. Results generated from European registers by ESHRE. European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.Hum Reprod. 2001; 16: 2459-71Crossref PubMed Scopus (113) Google Scholar]. The clinical pregnancy rate among women undergoing fresh embryo transfer (ET) after IVF or ICSI varies from 20% to 35% per transfer [1Nygren K.G. Andersen A.N. European IVF‐monitoring programme (EIM). Assisted reproductive technology in Europe, 1998. Results generated from European registers by ESHRE. European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.Hum Reprod. 2001; 16: 2459-71Crossref PubMed Scopus (113) Google Scholar, 2Harlin J. Aanesen A. Csemiczky G. Wramsby H. Fried G. Delivery rates following IVF treatment, using two recombinant FSH preparations for ovarian stimulation.Hum Reprod. 2002; 17: 304-9Crossref PubMed Google Scholar]. Suboptimal uterine perfusion has been reported as a possible cause of infertility [3Goswamy R.K. Williams G. Steptoe P.C. Decreased uterine perfusion – a cause of infertility.Hum Reprod. 1988; 3: 955-9Crossref PubMed Scopus (234) Google Scholar], suggesting the potential role for antithrombotic therapies in this setting. Previous studies failed to show a beneficial effect of aspirin [4Groeneveld E. Broeze K.A. Lambers M.J. Haapsamo M. Dirckx K. Schoot B.C. Salle B. Duvan C.I. Schats R. Mol B.W. Hompes P.G. for the IPD MARIA study groupIs aspirin effective in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)? Results from an individual patient data meta‐analysis (IPD MA).Hum Reprod Update. 2011; 17: 501-9Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar]. Heparin may have a positive effect in conception and early pregnancy events, because of its ability to alter the hemostatic response to ovarian stimulation, modulate trophoblast differentiation and invasion, and decrease the risk of thrombosis [5Nelson S.M. Greer I.A. The potential role of heparin in assisted conception.Hum Reprod Update. 2008; 14: 623-45Crossref PubMed Scopus (118) Google Scholar]. Thus, we performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the literature to investigate the effect of heparin on hard outcomes, including pregnancy rate and rate of live birth, in women undergoing IVF or ICSI. We searched for studies using the MEDLINE and EMBASE (up to July 2011) electronic databases. The search strategy was developed without any language restriction, using medical subjects headings and keywords. Research was supplemented by manually reviewing reference lists of all retrieved articles and abstract books from the Congress of the ISTH and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Scientific Meetings. Only randomized controlled trials comparing unfractionated heparin or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) with placebo or no therapy in women undergoing IVF or ICSI were included. Studies including patients with and without known thrombophilic abnormalities were considered eligible. The following data were extracted: study (year of publication, design, and study center), patient characteristics (number of subjects enrolled, and mean or median age), and the aforementioned clinical outcomes. Study identification, study selection and data extraction were performed independently in duplicate by two reviewers. When there was a discrepancy between the reviewers, this was resolved by discussion or by the opinion of a third reviewer, as necessary. The agreement between the reviewers was calculated by use of the κ‐statistic [6McGinn T. Wyer P.C. Newman T.B. Keitz S. Leipzig R. For G.G. Evidence‐based Medicine Teaching Tips Working Group. Tips for learners of evidence‐based medicine: 3. Measures of observer variability (kappa statistic).CMAJ. 2004; 171: 1369-73Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar]. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for each outcome under the assumption of fixed effects model with Review Manager 5 software. Analyses were repeated with a random effects model. Statistical heterogeneity was evaluated with the I2‐statistic [7Higgins J.P. Thompson S.G. Deeks J.J. Altman D.G. Measuring inconsistency in meta‐analyses.BMJ. 2003; 327: 557-60Crossref PubMed Google Scholar]. Studies including patients with known thrombophilic abnormalities were excluded from the sensitivity analysis, as ET failure may have a different pathophysiologic mechanism [8Di Micco P. D’Uva M. Lodigiani C. Rota L.L. Thrombophilia and repeated in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer failure: an open issue.Thromb Haemost. 2010; 103: 472-3Crossref PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar]. Study quality was evaluated by considering the appropriateness of randomization, the presence of blinding, and the concealment of allocation. A total of 535 (118 MEDLINE and 417 EMBASE) citations and 21 abstracts from the ISTH and ESHRE congresses were identified by our systematic search (search strategies and results are available upon request). After screening of the title and abstract with the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, seven studies were retrieved for more detailed evaluation [9Berker B. Taşkin S. Kahraman K. Taşkin E.A. Atabekoğlu C. Sönmezer M. The role of low‐molecular‐weight heparin in recurrent implantation failure: a prospective, quasi‐randomized, controlled study.Fertil Steril. 2011; 95: 2499-502Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 10Noci I. Milanini M.N. Ruggiero M. Papini F. Fuzzi B. Artini P.G. Effect of dalteparin sodium administration on IVF outcome in non‐thrombophilic young women: a pilot study.Reprod Biomed Online. 2011; 22: 615-20Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 11Urman B. Ata B. Yakin K. Alatas C. Aksoy S. Mercan R. Balaban B. Luteal phase empirical low molecular weight heparin administration in patients with failed ICSI embryo transfer cycles: a randomized open‐labeled pilot trial.Hum Reprod. 2009; 24: 1640-7Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 12Qublan H. Amarin Z. Dabbas M. Farraj A.E. Beni‐Merei Z. Al‐Akash H. Bdoor A.N. Nawasreh M. Malkawi S. Diab F. Al‐Ahmad N. Balawneh M. Abu‐Salim A. Low‐molecular‐weight heparin in the treatment of recurrent IVF‐ET failure and thrombophilia: a prospective randomized placebo‐controlled trial.Hum Fertil (Camb). 2008; 11: 246-53Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 13Stern C. Chamley L. Norris H. Hale L. Baker H.W. A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of heparin and aspirin for women with in vitro fertilization implantation failure and antiphospholipid or antinuclear antibodies.Fertil Steril. 2003; 80: 376-83Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 14Sher G. Zouves C. Feinman M. Maassarani G. Matzner W. Chong P. Ching W. A rational basis for the use of combined heparin/aspirin and IVIG immunotherapy in the treatment of recurrent IVF failure associated with antiphospholipid antibodies.Am J Reprod Immunol. 1998; 39: 391-4Crossref PubMed Google Scholar, 15Kutteh W.H. Yetman D.L. Chantilis S.J. Crain J. Effect of antiphospholipid antibodies in women undergoing in‐vitro fertilization: role of heparin and aspirin.Hum Reprod. 1997; 12: 1171-5Crossref PubMed Google Scholar]. Three studies were excluded because they assessed concomitant treatment with heparin and aspirin vs. placebo or no treatment [13Stern C. Chamley L. Norris H. Hale L. Baker H.W. A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of heparin and aspirin for women with in vitro fertilization implantation failure and antiphospholipid or antinuclear antibodies.Fertil Steril. 2003; 80: 376-83Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 14Sher G. Zouves C. Feinman M. Maassarani G. Matzner W. Chong P. Ching W. A rational basis for the use of combined heparin/aspirin and IVIG immunotherapy in the treatment of recurrent IVF failure associated with antiphospholipid antibodies.Am J Reprod Immunol. 1998; 39: 391-4Crossref PubMed Google Scholar, 15Kutteh W.H. Yetman D.L. Chantilis S.J. Crain J. Effect of antiphospholipid antibodies in women undergoing in‐vitro fertilization: role of heparin and aspirin.Hum Reprod. 1997; 12: 1171-5Crossref PubMed Google Scholar], and one because it was not a randomized trial [9Berker B. Taşkin S. Kahraman K. Taşkin E.A. Atabekoğlu C. Sönmezer M. The role of low‐molecular‐weight heparin in recurrent implantation failure: a prospective, quasi‐randomized, controlled study.Fertil Steril. 2011; 95: 2499-502Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar]; therefore, three studies with a total of 305 women were included in our systematic review [10Noci I. Milanini M.N. Ruggiero M. Papini F. Fuzzi B. Artini P.G. Effect of dalteparin sodium administration on IVF outcome in non‐thrombophilic young women: a pilot study.Reprod Biomed Online. 2011; 22: 615-20Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 11Urman B. Ata B. Yakin K. Alatas C. Aksoy S. Mercan R. Balaban B. Luteal phase empirical low molecular weight heparin administration in patients with failed ICSI embryo transfer cycles: a randomized open‐labeled pilot trial.Hum Reprod. 2009; 24: 1640-7Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 12Qublan H. Amarin Z. Dabbas M. Farraj A.E. Beni‐Merei Z. Al‐Akash H. Bdoor A.N. Nawasreh M. Malkawi S. Diab F. Al‐Ahmad N. Balawneh M. Abu‐Salim A. Low‐molecular‐weight heparin in the treatment of recurrent IVF‐ET failure and thrombophilia: a prospective randomized placebo‐controlled trial.Hum Fertil (Camb). 2008; 11: 246-53Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar]. The interobserver agreement for the study selection was good (κ = 0.79). Baseline characteristics of the included studies are summarized in Table 1. LMWH was the heparin used in all three studies. The method of randomization was adequate in all three studies [10Noci I. Milanini M.N. Ruggiero M. Papini F. Fuzzi B. Artini P.G. Effect of dalteparin sodium administration on IVF outcome in non‐thrombophilic young women: a pilot study.Reprod Biomed Online. 2011; 22: 615-20Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 11Urman B. Ata B. Yakin K. Alatas C. Aksoy S. Mercan R. Balaban B. Luteal phase empirical low molecular weight heparin administration in patients with failed ICSI embryo transfer cycles: a randomized open‐labeled pilot trial.Hum Reprod. 2009; 24: 1640-7Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 12Qublan H. Amarin Z. Dabbas M. Farraj A.E. Beni‐Merei Z. Al‐Akash H. Bdoor A.N. Nawasreh M. Malkawi S. Diab F. Al‐Ahmad N. Balawneh M. Abu‐Salim A. Low‐molecular‐weight heparin in the treatment of recurrent IVF‐ET failure and thrombophilia: a prospective randomized placebo‐controlled trial.Hum Fertil (Camb). 2008; 11: 246-53Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar]. One study was placebo‐controlled [12Qublan H. Amarin Z. Dabbas M. Farraj A.E. Beni‐Merei Z. Al‐Akash H. Bdoor A.N. Nawasreh M. Malkawi S. Diab F. Al‐Ahmad N. Balawneh M. Abu‐Salim A. Low‐molecular‐weight heparin in the treatment of recurrent IVF‐ET failure and thrombophilia: a prospective randomized placebo‐controlled trial.Hum Fertil (Camb). 2008; 11: 246-53Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar], whereas the other two were open‐label [10Noci I. Milanini M.N. Ruggiero M. Papini F. Fuzzi B. Artini P.G. Effect of dalteparin sodium administration on IVF outcome in non‐thrombophilic young women: a pilot study.Reprod Biomed Online. 2011; 22: 615-20Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 11Urman B. Ata B. Yakin K. Alatas C. Aksoy S. Mercan R. Balaban B. Luteal phase empirical low molecular weight heparin administration in patients with failed ICSI embryo transfer cycles: a randomized open‐labeled pilot trial.Hum Reprod. 2009; 24: 1640-7Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar]. The allocation concealment was adequate in two studies [10Noci I. Milanini M.N. Ruggiero M. Papini F. Fuzzi B. Artini P.G. Effect of dalteparin sodium administration on IVF outcome in non‐thrombophilic young women: a pilot study.Reprod Biomed Online. 2011; 22: 615-20Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 11Urman B. Ata B. Yakin K. Alatas C. Aksoy S. Mercan R. Balaban B. Luteal phase empirical low molecular weight heparin administration in patients with failed ICSI embryo transfer cycles: a randomized open‐labeled pilot trial.Hum Reprod. 2009; 24: 1640-7Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar] and unclear in one study [12Qublan H. Amarin Z. Dabbas M. Farraj A.E. Beni‐Merei Z. Al‐Akash H. Bdoor A.N. Nawasreh M. Malkawi S. Diab F. Al‐Ahmad N. Balawneh M. Abu‐Salim A. Low‐molecular‐weight heparin in the treatment of recurrent IVF‐ET failure and thrombophilia: a prospective randomized placebo‐controlled trial.Hum Fertil (Camb). 2008; 11: 246-53Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar]. Two studies evaluated the role of LMWH in patients without known thrombophilia [10Noci I. Milanini M.N. Ruggiero M. Papini F. Fuzzi B. Artini P.G. Effect of dalteparin sodium administration on IVF outcome in non‐thrombophilic young women: a pilot study.Reprod Biomed Online. 2011; 22: 615-20Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 11Urman B. Ata B. Yakin K. Alatas C. Aksoy S. Mercan R. Balaban B. Luteal phase empirical low molecular weight heparin administration in patients with failed ICSI embryo transfer cycles: a randomized open‐labeled pilot trial.Hum Reprod. 2009; 24: 1640-7Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar], whereas only thrombophilic patients were included in one study [12Qublan H. Amarin Z. Dabbas M. Farraj A.E. Beni‐Merei Z. Al‐Akash H. Bdoor A.N. Nawasreh M. Malkawi S. Diab F. Al‐Ahmad N. Balawneh M. Abu‐Salim A. Low‐molecular‐weight heparin in the treatment of recurrent IVF‐ET failure and thrombophilia: a prospective randomized placebo‐controlled trial.Hum Fertil (Camb). 2008; 11: 246-53Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar]. Prophylactic LMWH dosage was used in two studies [10Noci I. Milanini M.N. Ruggiero M. Papini F. Fuzzi B. Artini P.G. Effect of dalteparin sodium administration on IVF outcome in non‐thrombophilic young women: a pilot study.Reprod Biomed Online. 2011; 22: 615-20Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 12Qublan H. Amarin Z. Dabbas M. Farraj A.E. Beni‐Merei Z. Al‐Akash H. Bdoor A.N. Nawasreh M. Malkawi S. Diab F. Al‐Ahmad N. Balawneh M. Abu‐Salim A. Low‐molecular‐weight heparin in the treatment of recurrent IVF‐ET failure and thrombophilia: a prospective randomized placebo‐controlled trial.Hum Fertil (Camb). 2008; 11: 246-53Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar] and an intermediate dosage (i.e. half the therapeutic dose) in one study [11Urman B. Ata B. Yakin K. Alatas C. Aksoy S. Mercan R. Balaban B. Luteal phase empirical low molecular weight heparin administration in patients with failed ICSI embryo transfer cycles: a randomized open‐labeled pilot trial.Hum Reprod. 2009; 24: 1640-7Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar]. LMWH was continued up to 9–12 weeks of gestation in two studies [10Noci I. Milanini M.N. Ruggiero M. Papini F. Fuzzi B. Artini P.G. Effect of dalteparin sodium administration on IVF outcome in non‐thrombophilic young women: a pilot study.Reprod Biomed Online. 2011; 22: 615-20Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 11Urman B. Ata B. Yakin K. Alatas C. Aksoy S. Mercan R. Balaban B. Luteal phase empirical low molecular weight heparin administration in patients with failed ICSI embryo transfer cycles: a randomized open‐labeled pilot trial.Hum Reprod. 2009; 24: 1640-7Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar], and until delivery or fetal demise in one study [12Qublan H. Amarin Z. Dabbas M. Farraj A.E. Beni‐Merei Z. Al‐Akash H. Bdoor A.N. Nawasreh M. Malkawi S. Diab F. Al‐Ahmad N. Balawneh M. Abu‐Salim A. Low‐molecular‐weight heparin in the treatment of recurrent IVF‐ET failure and thrombophilia: a prospective randomized placebo‐controlled trial.Hum Fertil (Camb). 2008; 11: 246-53Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar]. Patients with previous failed reproduction treatment cycles were included in two studies [11Urman B. Ata B. Yakin K. Alatas C. Aksoy S. Mercan R. Balaban B. Luteal phase empirical low molecular weight heparin administration in patients with failed ICSI embryo transfer cycles: a randomized open‐labeled pilot trial.Hum Reprod. 2009; 24: 1640-7Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 12Qublan H. Amarin Z. Dabbas M. Farraj A.E. Beni‐Merei Z. Al‐Akash H. Bdoor A.N. Nawasreh M. Malkawi S. Diab F. Al‐Ahmad N. Balawneh M. Abu‐Salim A. Low‐molecular‐weight heparin in the treatment of recurrent IVF‐ET failure and thrombophilia: a prospective randomized placebo‐controlled trial.Hum Fertil (Camb). 2008; 11: 246-53Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar], whereas the third study included patients undergoing a first IVF cycle [10Noci I. Milanini M.N. Ruggiero M. Papini F. Fuzzi B. Artini P.G. Effect of dalteparin sodium administration on IVF outcome in non‐thrombophilic young women: a pilot study.Reprod Biomed Online. 2011; 22: 615-20Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar].Table 1Baseline characteristics and treatment of patients included in the studiesStudy, yearNo. of patients includedMean age (years)Inclusion criteriaPrimary outcomeTreatment and doseOnset and duration of therapyNoci, 2011 [10Noci I. Milanini M.N. Ruggiero M. Papini F. Fuzzi B. Artini P.G. Effect of dalteparin sodium administration on IVF outcome in non‐thrombophilic young women: a pilot study.Reprod Biomed Online. 2011; 22: 615-20Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar]17234.7 ± 3.6 vs. 35.1 ± 3.1Patients undergoing IVF or ICSI Age < 40years Absence of thrombophilic abnormalitiesLive birth ETDalteparin Sodium 2500 U vs. no treatmentOn the day of oocyte retrieval and up to the day of the pregnancy test or up to the ninth week of pregnancy in the case of positive HCGUrman, 2009 [11Urman B. Ata B. Yakin K. Alatas C. Aksoy S. Mercan R. Balaban B. Luteal phase empirical low molecular weight heparin administration in patients with failed ICSI embryo transfer cycles: a randomized open‐labeled pilot trial.Hum Reprod. 2009; 24: 1640-7Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar]15034.0 ± 5.0 vs. 34.8 ± 5.8History of ≥ 2 previously failed fresh ET cycles, as demonstrated by negative serum β‐HCG levels Age 38 years Fresh ejaculate sperm to be used for ICSI No hormonal, coagulation or immunologic disorders detected Normal uterine cavity, as assessed by hysteroscopy or saline infusion sonography Normal peripheral karyotypeClinical pregnancy Live birthEnoxaparin 1 mg kg−1 day–1 vs. no treatmentOn the day of oocyte retrieval and up to the 12th gestational week in pregnant participantsQublan, 2008 [12Qublan H. Amarin Z. Dabbas M. Farraj A.E. Beni‐Merei Z. Al‐Akash H. Bdoor A.N. Nawasreh M. Malkawi S. Diab F. Al‐Ahmad N. Balawneh M. Abu‐Salim A. Low‐molecular‐weight heparin in the treatment of recurrent IVF‐ET failure and thrombophilia: a prospective randomized placebo‐controlled trial.Hum Fertil (Camb). 2008; 11: 246-53Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar]8329.0 ± 6.3 vs. 29.2 ± 6.1History of ≥ 3 previous IVF failures At least one thrombophilic abnormalityImplantation Clinical pregnancy Live birthEnoxaparin 40 mg vs. placebo (NaCl 0.9%)On the day of ET and up to delivery or fetal demiseET, embryo transfer; HCG, human chorionic gonadotropin; ICSI, intracytoplasmic sperm injection; IVF, in vitro fertilization. Open table in a new tab ET, embryo transfer; HCG, human chorionic gonadotropin; ICSI, intracytoplasmic sperm injection; IVF, in vitro fertilization. The use of LMWH was associated with a higher rate of clinical pregnancies (RR 1.38, 95% CI 1.02–1.87; P = 0.04) and live births (RR 1.54, 95% CI 1.05–2.26) Fig. 1. Heterogeneity among the studies was moderate, but not significant (I2 = 38% and I2 = 51%, respectively). When the analyses were repeated with the random effects model, the differences were no longer statistically significant (P = 0.19 and P = 0.13). Finally, sensitivity analyses excluding patients with known thrombophilic abnormalities showed similar but no longer statistically significant differences in the two outcomes (P = 0.23 and P = 0.21, respectively). The results of this systematic review suggest that LMWH may be effective in increasing the rates of clinical pregnancies and live births in patients undergoing IVF or ICSI. However, these results should be interpreted with extreme caution, because only three, relatively small, trials explored this important issue, there is a fair degree of statistical and clinical heterogeneity in the included studies, and when the analyses were repeated with a random effects model, an approach that takes into account variance among the studies, differences were no longer statistically significant. LMWH may act by preventing microthromboses that negatively impact on the implantation process and placental development [5Nelson S.M. Greer I.A. The potential role of heparin in assisted conception.Hum Reprod Update. 2008; 14: 623-45Crossref PubMed Scopus (118) Google Scholar]. Other potential mechanisms include modulation of differentiation and trophoblastic invasion, and the increase in the level of free insulin‐like growth factor that is involved in the implantation process [16Lacey H. Haigh T. Westwood M. Aplin J.D. Mesenchymally‐derived insulin‐like growth factor 1 provides a paracrine stimulus for trophoblast migration.BMC Dev Biol. 2002; 24: 2Google Scholar]. Non‐randomized studies on this topic have led to inconsistent results [9Berker B. Taşkin S. Kahraman K. Taşkin E.A. Atabekoğlu C. Sönmezer M. The role of low‐molecular‐weight heparin in recurrent implantation failure: a prospective, quasi‐randomized, controlled study.Fertil Steril. 2011; 95: 2499-502Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 17Lodigiani C. Di Micco P. Ferrazzi P. Librè L. Arfuso V. Polatti F. Michela B. Rossini R. Morenghi E. Rota L. Brenner B. Paolo E.L. Low‐molecular‐weight heparin in women with repeated implantation failure.Womens Health (Lond Engl). 2011; 7: 425-31Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar]. The use of LMWH did not provide any beneficial effect on pregnancy outcomes in patients with two or more implantation failures [9Berker B. Taşkin S. Kahraman K. Taşkin E.A. Atabekoğlu C. Sönmezer M. The role of low‐molecular‐weight heparin in recurrent implantation failure: a prospective, quasi‐randomized, controlled study.Fertil Steril. 2011; 95: 2499-502Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar]. On the other hand, in a more recent study, the use of LMWH was associated with a significantly higher pregnancy rate in patients with at least two IVF/ICSI cycles independently of the presence of thrombophilic abnormalities [17Lodigiani C. Di Micco P. Ferrazzi P. Librè L. Arfuso V. Polatti F. Michela B. Rossini R. Morenghi E. Rota L. Brenner B. Paolo E.L. Low‐molecular‐weight heparin in women with repeated implantation failure.Womens Health (Lond Engl). 2011; 7: 425-31Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar]. Although the evidence for the independent role of thrombophilic abnormalities in this setting is not compelling [18Grandone E. Colaizzo D. Lo Bue A. Checola M.G. Cittadini E. Margaglione M. Inherited thrombophilia and in vitro fertilization implantation failure.Fertil Steril. 2001; 76: 201-2Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar, 19Di Nisio M. Rutjes A.W. Ferrante N. Tiboni G.M. Cuccurullo F. Porreca E. Thrombophilia and outcomes of assisted reproduction technologies: a systematic review and meta‐analysis.Blood. 2011; 118: 2670-8Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar], whether LMWH is effective in patients without thrombophilic abnormalities remains to be established, as the differences between the pooled results of the two studies including non‐thrombophilic patients were not statistically significant. Furthermore, other factors, including maternal age at the time of conception and the number of previous failures, could influence the outcome of a pregnancy, and future studies should explore the role of LMWH in these different groups of patients. In conclusion, our results suggest that the administration of LMWH may increase clinical pregnancy and live birth rates in women undergoing IVF or ICSI, although these results should be interpreted with caution, owing to the clinical and statistical heterogeneity among the studies. Thus, larger studies are warranted to evaluate the efficacy of LMWH in patients with and without thrombophilic abnormalities and in patients with and without previous implantation failure. The authors state that they have no conflict of interest.
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