Certolizumab in Recurrent Implantation Failure (RIF)

Efficacy of Certolizumab in Women With Unexplained Recurrent Implantation Failure: a Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Promoteur : Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris

Titre et résumé fournis en anglais par le registre source, reproduits sans traduction ni interprétation.

Recurrent implantation failure (RIF), defined as the absence of clinical pregnancy after the transfer of three good-quality embryos, concerns up to 40% of IVF couples and is associated with a low success rate. The causes remain unexplained in over 50% of cases. Various dysimmune changes (related to immune T cells profiles, pro-inflammatory cytokines levels) have been described in unexplained RIF as compared to fertile controls, and it has been estimated that such dysimmunity may occur in 50% of unexplained RIFs. Previous data on a benefit of general immune modulation by steroids or immunoglobulins are heterogenous and failed to demonstrate clinically significant benefit. The proinflammatory cytokine Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) α participates in the regulation of the immune balance of the endometrium, its peripheral blood and endometrial concentrations are increased in RIF patients as compared to fertile controls. In 2009, a pilot placebo controlled study showed that TNF-α antagonist treatment allowed a 56% live birth rate (versus 13% in controls) in 13 women with unexplained RIF. Due to the lack of maternal and fetal tolerance data, TNF-α antagonists were not further evaluated. Today, safety data issued from 1200 pregnancies are reassuring allowing the use of TNF-α antagonists during pregnancy (www.lecrat.org). In addition the TNF-α antagonist certolizumab does not cross the placental barrier. We hypothesize that certolizumab may improve clinical pregnancy rates in women with unexplained RIF with a good safety profile.