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What are Intralipids used for in IVF?

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2 fertility expert(s) answered this question

Answer from: Ioannis John Toliopoulos, PhD

Immunologist, Clinicolaboratorial Physiology, Reproductive immunology, President of Konstantinion Research Center of Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology
Konstantinion Research Center of Molecular Medicine & Biotechnology non-profit Foundation (KRC)
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There are two kinds of concentration that we’ve seen so far. I think one 10% or 20% and we have to know automatically with help of an algorithm that we have in a computer – depending on the diagnostic result – which one, how to dilute it and how much. We have to test each person individually. You have to be very specific if you give a higher dosage or a big amount of intralipid – maybe there’s a bibliography explaining that you can spoil for example the kidneys of the lady and we don’t want to do this. That’s why we dilute it and we have the specific result that we want with no side effects.

Answer from: Orestis Tsonis, MD, MSc, PhD

Gynaecologist, Specialist in Reproductive Medicine at Guy’s And St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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Intralipids are an intravenously delivered nutritional supplement made up of soy and egg fats, glycerin, and water. Usually, intralipids are used to treat patients with disease-related malnutrition. Before receiving Intralipids, and based on the HFEA guidance one should always remember that possible side effects of intralipids include headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and/or vomiting, and sweating. It is worth mentioning that there is a very rare but distinct (less than 1%) risk of having a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to the drug.

When compared to intravenous immunoglobin, some studies have found that intralipids have shown similar improvements in IVF clinic pregnancy rates and decreased miscarriage rates.
Intralipids are significantly less expensive than Intravenous immune globulin (IVIg) as well—costing several hundred dollars (for multiple infusions before embryo transfer and after a positive pregnancy test) instead of thousands of dollars, like Intravenous immune globulin IVIg.

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How intralipids may help during an IVF cycle?

It is expected from Intralipid infusions to help with implantation as they may affect the immunological conditions of the womb. Elevated uterine NK cells are expected to be suppressed and this way the implantation rates are supposed to be improved.

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