Interleukin 15 and granulocytes colony stimulating factor levels in relation to ICSI outcome in subfertile PCOS women

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome constitutes a complex heterogeneous disorder, considered one of the leading cause of delayed conception in women. Serum and follicular fluid cytokines are subject of extensive studies to identify their role in subfertility with controversial results. This study was aimed to evaluate the relation of Granulocytes Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) and Interleukin 15 (IL 15) levels to ovarian response and ICSI outcome in PCOS women undergoing ICSI. This cross-sectional study conducted at High Institute of Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technique and Baghdad IVF Private Centre. Which include 80 women divided into two groups: 40 PCOS women without other causes of subfertility and 40 non PCOS women with other causes of subfertility. Ovarian hormonal stimulation conducted according to GnRH antagonist protocol, then serum & follicular fluid obtained at the day of oocyte retrieval for measurement of G-CSF & IL 15 concentration measured by ELISA method, then statistical analysis is used to correlate the concentration of the cytokine with follicle number, retrieved oocyte number, oocyte maturity, number of 2PN oocytes, number of grade1 embryones, biochemical pregnancies and clinical pregnancy rates. The results of currents study revealed that Serum estradiol (E2) on hCG day was (2238.70 ±468.95 vs. 1997.40 ±291.95 pg/ml), endometrial thickness (10.80 ±1.49 vs. 10.24 ±0.98 mm), total follicle number (15.53 ±3.86 versus 12.43 ±2.25), oocyte number (13.03 ±3.10 vs. 9.83 ±1.52), mature oocyte (MII) number (9.48 ±2.45 vs. 7.75 ±1.48) mean number of fertilized oocytes (2PN) was (6.25 ±1.41 vs. 5.35 ±1.08), being higher in PCOS women compared to the control group. On day of oocytes retrieval, both median level of serum G-CSF (54.30) (35.35) and follicular G-CSF (59.00) (38.72) levels were significantly higher in PCOS than control groups, while there was no significant difference in median level of serum IL15 (59.10) (17.75) and median level of follicular IL-15(61.40) (16.00) between PCOS and control groups.  The study concluded that in spite of higher levels of G-CSF and IL15 in serum and follicular fluid of PCOS women, a relation between G-CSF and IL15 with ovarian response could not be established in comparison to control group, however, both (G-CSF and IL15) may be a predictor of pregnancy among the same group of women both PCOS and controls.