The Effects of Subcutaneous Administration of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor on Pregnancy Outcome After Assisted Reproductive Technology: Clinical Trial

Background: granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (g-csf) is an innovative therapy in reproductive medicine. although its mechanisms of action have remained unknown, g-csf seems to be effective in the case of recurrent abortion or implantation failure and thin endometrium. objectives: this study was conducted to investigate whether subcutaneous administration of g-csf has any effect on pregnancy outcome after assisted reproductive technology (art). methods: fifty women with male infertility factors undergoing art treatment were enrolled and stimulated with the standard long protocol. the g-csf group of women received one dose of subcutaneous g-csf (filgrastim, 300 μg/1 ml) on the day of embryo transfer and again two days later while the placebo group received normal saline. results: seventeen patients had a positive human chorionic gonadotropin concentration after embryo transfer (8 and 9 in g-csf and placebo groups, respectively) although the difference was not statistically significant. in addition, spontaneous abortion occurred in three patients (1 patient in the g-csf group vs. 2 patients in the placebo group). conclusion: overall, although g-csf failed to affect the endometrial thickness, as well as implantation, or clinical pregnancy rates, a lower prevalence of abortion in g-csf group may be due to the positive effect of g-csf administration on the endometrium as compared to the placebo group.