OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of FSH-blocking IgG in infertile women. DESIGN: Retrospective study. Sera from patients and controls were processed for IgG purification, and purified IgG were tested at various concentrations for their ability to inhibit the recombinant human FSH-induced P production in vitro by human granulosa cells. SETTING: Departments of Endocrinology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Caen. PATIENT(S): Fifty-seven infertile women including 14 women with premature ovarian failure (POF), 29 women with a poor response to IVF-ET, and 14 women with a good response to IVF-ET. Controls consisted of 22 healthy age-matched women. INTERVENTION(S): IVF-ET allowed human granulosa cell pooling and culture for FSH bioassay. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Inhibition by purified IgG of the in vitro recombinant human FSH-induced P production by human granulosa cells. RESULT(S): Blocking IgG were identified in only 3 of 14 POF and in 2 of 29 women with a poor response to IVF-ET. In contrast, IgG from women with a good response to IVF-ET inhibited significantly P production, and blocking IgG were detected in 85% women with a good response to IVF-ET. CONCLUSION(S): This study identified FSH-blocking IgG in a high proportion of women with a good response to IVF-ET. The significance of this remains questionable.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of FSH-blocking IgG in infertile women. DESIGN: Retrospective study. Sera from patients and controls were processed for IgG purification, and purified IgG were tested at various concentrations for their ability to inhibit the recombinant human FSH-induced P production in vitro by human granulosa cells. SETTING: Departments of Endocrinology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Caen. PATIENT(S): Fifty-seven infertile women including 14 women with premature ovarian failure (POF), 29 women with a poor response to IVF-ET, and 14 women with a good response to IVF-ET. Controls consisted of 22 healthy age-matched women. INTERVENTION(S): IVF-ET allowed human granulosa cell pooling and culture for FSH bioassay. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Inhibition by purified IgG of the in vitro recombinant human FSH-induced P production by human granulosa cells. RESULT(S): Blocking IgG were identified in only 3 of 14 POF and in 2 of 29 women with a poor response to IVF-ET. In contrast, IgG from women with a good response to IVF-ET inhibited significantly P production, and blocking IgG were detected in 85% women with a good response to IVF-ET. CONCLUSION(S): This study identified FSH-blocking IgG in a high proportion of women with a good response to IVF-ET. The significance of this remains questionable.