DQ alpha/HLA Sharing: Does It Always Lead To Reproductive Failure?
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It is not unusual for couples who share DQ alpha/HLA similarities to first give birth to a healthy baby only to subsequently develop infertility, recurrent IVF failure or recurrent pregnancy loss. Such couples find it hard to comprehend how after having experienced an often uncomplicated pregnancy and birth they could then go on to develop immunologic implantation dysfunction. Hopefully, this brief article will serve to explain how and why DQ alpha/HLA sharing between the embryo recipient (female partner) and the sperm provider (male partner) does not inevitably lead to implantation dysfunction and reproductive loss.
When DQ alpha and/or HLA sharing exists between a female and male it will usually require repeated embryo exposures for the host’s uterine natural killer cells to become sufficiently activated to cause damage to the embryo’s root system (trophoblast). Once natural killer cells become activated, they begin to over-produce substances known as TH-1 cytokines which attack the trophoblast and so damage it that the embryo is promptly rejected. Sometimes, the effect is not immediately lethal and the pregnancy “limps along,” only to miscarry, usually in the first trimester. If, in spite of there being DQ-alpha/HLA sharing between the male and female partners, a “competent” embryo reaches the uterus prior to the advent of NK-cell activation (NKa+) it would escape severe damage to its root system and, provided that NKa+ does not subsequently ensue the pregnancy will usually go on to full term. On the other hand, should NKa+ occur, such a pregnancy would likely miscarry. Thus, outcome very much depends on the level and timing of NK cell activation.
The bottom line: In cases of alloimmune implantation dysfunction, it is the frequency and number of embryo-NK cell exposures over time that will determine the absence, presence and degree of NKa+ and so determine the fate of the pregnancy. This serves to explain why successful pregnancies are usually the ones that occur early in the male-female relationship and why subsequently with a progressive build up of NKa+ a successful pregnancy will often be followed by a series of miscarriages and eventually by a complete failure to conceive (i.e. “perceived infertility”).
10 Responses to “DQ alpha/HLA Sharing: Does It Always Lead To Reproductive Failure?”
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Dr. Sher,
I am using anonymous donor sperm and am undergoing IVF. As I cannot test my LADs with the donor, is there anything that can be done to protect the embryos once they have been transferred?
Thank you!
Your LAD's will be negative since you are testing them against a new donor. They are also irrelevant. There is thus no point in doing them in my opinion.
It is unlikely you have a DQa/HLA match with the sperm donor, but in case you do, perhaps you might consider getting his and your DQa/HLA compared and most importantly, getting your NK cell activity (NKa) tested by way of the K-562 target cell test.
Good luck!
Geoff Sher
Thank you Dr. Sher!
You are most welcome!
Geoff Sher
Dear Dr. Sher,
My husband and I have recently done HLA genotype panel test and would like to know if all the results have to match to confirm male/female do match 100%.
i.e if HLA-DRB1 has some similarity (13,13, DRB3 present- for female and 13,14,DRB3 present). How can one interpret these results?
Thank you,
Aline
I would need to see the entire panel to comment. I would also need to know where the testing was done.
Geoff Sher
Dear Dr,
We would like to have your advice in our case.
I am 34 year old ( Jan 79 born ) and my husband is 35 year old ( Dec 77 born).. We have been married for last 4 yrs ( Dec 2008). During which we tried to be parents but unfortunately every time we tried, we ended up being further away from our parenthood.
In total I had 5 recurrent pregnancy losses and its detail is listed below :
1. The first loss was on march 2009 ( it might be just a chemical pregnancy which ended in 5 weeks. HCG test was performed, but nothing conclusive came in the results_
2. The second loss happened on June 2010 at 6 weeks ( This too might be just a chemical pregnancy which ended in 6 weeks. HCG test was performed, Pregnancy was confirmed by blood test.
3. The third one was Blighted Ovum, it was discovered on 9th week on Feb 2011. I went for D&C
4. The fourth pregnancy was actual a full term pregnancy with a still born at 39 weeks, 1 days. This was most heart breaking of all losses. On 1st Apr 2012 at 39 weeks , early morning I passed my mucus plug with a drop of blood and visited the hospital immediately for the fetal non stress test.My baby was doing perfect in the fetal non stress test.I was checked by the resident doctor at that time send us home saying that my cervix is not dilated yet. The next morning on 2nd of Apr 2012, I started having contractions and when we went to clinic for check up, our baby was no more. The autopsy report says our baby died due to amniotic fluid aspiration also it had cord around the neck at the time of delivery. We have attached autopsy for your reference.
5. The fifth pregnancy was again Blighted Ovum, it was discovered on 9th week of Oct 2012. I opted for natural miscarriage.
After the loss of 5th pregnancy, we are heart broken and our OB/GYN suggested to explore option of IVF, to have better results in next pregnancy.
Since the loss of 4th pregnancy which was full term baby, we did extensive test to identify the root cause of our baby demise, but no doctors could conclusive say why still birth occured. Test such as blood clotting, genetic mutation, genetic screening, HLA test, immune, thyroid, antiphospholipid, etc were performed, I have attached the test results for your reference.
I would like you to review our case history and suggest some solution which help us for successful parenting.
Your full term loss is heart breaking if only because it was clearly avoidable. For me to be of help, we need to consult. It would be a disservice for me to try and respond constructively on the basis of the information here provided.Please schedule a phone consultation with me by calling 800-780-7437.
In the mean time go elsewhere on http://www.IVFauthority.com and read the article I wrote on “Recurrent Pregnancy Loss”.
Sincerely,
Geoff Sher
Dear Dr. Geoffrey,
Thank you so much for your prompt reply. I will give you a call tomorrow. Please provide your email id where I can mail you all my tests report before the phone consultation.
Please provide all that information when you call for an appointment and I will review them before we talk. The scheduler you talk to will let you know where to forward this to.
Thanks!
Geoff Sher