Association of Fibroblast Growth Factor-1 Promoter Polymorphism and its Serum Concentrations with Repeated Implantation Failure after Fertilisation: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) play a key role in embryo implantation and support endometrial trophoblastic interaction.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between FGF-1 (rs34011) gene variety and its serum concentration with repeated implantation failure (RIF).

Setting And Design: The design of the study was a cross-sectional study.

Materials And Methods: Four hundred infertile women with a history of RIF and 400 healthy women undergoing the first fertilisation-embryo transfer attempt with successful delivery (controls) were enrolled in the study. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leucocytes and genotyped by Tetra-Primer Amplification Refractory Mutation System-Polymerase Chain Reaction. Serum FGF-1 concentration was evaluated with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Statistical Analysis Used: The ANOVA test was used to analyse the difference between the means of the groups.

Results: In RIF group, the genotype frequencies of the GG, GA and AA were 59%, 33.5% and 7.5%, respectively, whereas in controls were 72.5%, 24% and 3.5%, respectively. The G and A allele frequencies in the RIF group were 75.75% and 24.25%, while in controls were 84.5% and 15.5%, respectively ( < 0.0001). We have also shown that serum FGF-1 concentration in RIF and control groups was 17 ± 3.55 and 23.62 ± 4.91 pg/mL, respectively ( = 0.008). We have also shown that AA genotype is significantly associated with decreased serum FGF-1 concentration in RIF (AA, GA and GG serum levels were 9.55 ± 2.65, 14 ± 3.35 and 22.55 ± 7.26 pg/mL, and in controls were 12.22 ± 2.27, 18.44 ± 5.98 and 26.66 ± 8.29 pg/mL, respectively).

Conclusion: The current study suggests that a significant association between FGF-1 (rs34011) promoter polymorphism and its serum concentration with RIF. The study also suggests that AA genotype is linked to lower FGF-1 serum levels and may play a risk factor for RIF.