Prevalence of autoantibodies against VEGF-A and association with adverse outcomes of assisted reproductive technology programs in patients with infertility
Menzhinskaya I.V., Romanova D.M., Dolgushina N.V.
Continuous angiogenesis is essential for normal ovarian function, embryo implantation, and placentation. Members of the VEGF family, including VEGF-A, the founding member of the family, play a key role in the regulation of ovarian angiogenesis. Investigation of autoantibodies against angiogenesis regulatory molecules in reproductive failures is of great scientific interest.
Objective. To assess the prevalence and levels of autoantibodies against VEGF-A in women with infertility and their association with ART outcomes.
Materials and methods. Serum autoantibodies (M, G) against VEGF-A in patients with endometriosis-associated infertility (Group 1, n=42) and without the diagnosis of endometriosis (Group 2, n=36), who underwent ART programs, were detected using a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with the recombinant human VEGF-A preparation.
Results. Autoantibodies against VEGF-A were found in a large proportion of patients in groups 1 and 2 – 31.0% and 41.7%, respectively. No differences were found between the studied groups in the prevalence and levels of autoantibodies. Worse embryological outcomes were in women with endometriosis. The risk of having no good-quality blastocysts was 1.5 times higher and the risk of non-occurrence of clinical pregnancy was 1,7 times higher in seropositive patients compared to seronegative patients.
Conclusion. Autoantibodies against VEGF-A were found in women with different types of infertility, that was associated with worsening embryological and clinical outcomes of ART cycles. Further research of autoantibodies against angiogenesis regulatory molecules is necessary to identify the biomarkers of reproductive failures and improve the effectiveness of ART programs.
Authors' contributions. Menzhinskaya I.V., Dolgushina N.V. – the study concept and design; Menzhinskaya I.V., Romanova D.M. – material collection and processing, statistical data processing, manuscript writing; Dolgushina N.V. – manuscript editing.
Conflicts of interest. The authors confirm that they have no conflict of interest to declare.
Funding. The study was carried out within the Project INIR 35-I26 “Development of personalized approach to realization of reproductive function in patients with infertility using innovation technologies”.
Ethical Approval. The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee of V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia.
Generative Artificial Intelligence. No generative AI was used in preparing this article.
Patient Consent for Publication. The patients have signed informed consent for publication of their data.
Authors' Data Sharing Statement. The data supporting the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author after approval from the principal investigator.
For citation: Menzhinskaya I.V., Romanova D.M., Dolgushina N.V. Prevalence of autoantibodies against VEGF-A and association with adverse outcomes of assisted reproductive technology programs in patients with infertility.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2026; (8): 134-142 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2026.185
Keywords
autoantibodies against VEGF-A
infertility
endometriosis
assisted reproductive technologies (ART)
embryological outcomes of ART
clinical outcomes of ART
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Received 09.06.2026
Accepted 02.07.2026
About the Authors
Irina V. Menzhinskaya, Dr. Med. Sci., Leading Researcher, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 4, Oparina str., Moscow, Russia, 117997, i_menzinskaya@oparina4.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5385-0370Daria M. Romanova, PhD, Researcher, Center for Scientific and Clinical Research, Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Department of Gynecological Endocrinology,
Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 4, Oparina str., Moscow, Russia, 117997, +7(495)438-85-41, dm_romanova@oparina4.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8558-4687
Nataliya V. Dolgushina, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Deputy Director for Research, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics,
Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 4, Oparina str., Moscow, Russia, 117997; Professor at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Perinatology
and Reproductology, Institute of Professional Education, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia (Sechenov University),
n_dolgushina@oparina4.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1116-138X
Corresponding author: Daria M. Romanova, dm_romanova@oparina4.ru
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