In Vitro Fertilization in 60 Women with Auto-inflammatory or Uncommon Autoimmune Diseases: A Single-Center Experience

Objective: Autoimmune and auto-inflammatory diseases can affect both the timing and ability of women to conceive. There is limited data addressing the outcomes of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in autoimmune and auto-inflammatory-related infertility. This study presents the IVF experience in women diagnosed with at least one auto-inflammatory disease or autoimmune disorder except for the more common autoimmune disorders that primarily impact the thyroid gland. Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on women diagnosed with at least one autoimmune or auto-inflammatory disease and had undergone at least one IVF cycle between 2014 and 2023. Results: The study included 60 women who underwent a total of 74 IVF procedures. Rheumatoid arthritis was the most common autoimmune condition, affecting 26.6% of the patients, closely followed by Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) in 25% of the patients. The main factor causing infertility in the sample population was the diminished ovarian reserve, which affected around 64.9% of the participants. The median age at the time of IVF was 33 years. Out of 74 IVF cycles, there were 15 pregnancies, resulting in 9 live births (60%) and 6 miscarriages (40%). The IVF clinical pregnancy rate was 20.2% and the live birth rate was 12.1%. Obstetric complications included one case each of preterm birth, preeclampsia, and fetal growth restriction. No maternal or neonatal deaths occurred, and no cases of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome were reported. Conclusion: The outcomes of IVF in 60 patients diagnosed with autoimmune and auto-inflammatory diseases were analysed in this study. The IVF procedure exhibited comparatively low pregnancy and live birth rates. However, more than half of the on-going pregnancies resulted in live births. IVF remains a promising option for fertility treatment in patients with autoimmune diseases.