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

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. This study was conducted to investigate whether subcutaneous administration of G-CSF has any effect on pregnancy outcome after assisted reproductive technology (ART). 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. Seventeen patients had a positive β-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). 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.