We finally have a plan! We had our phone consultation with one of the doctors at the Alan Beer Center in CA on June 12th. This is basically what is wrong with us:
A crossmatch was done to determine how well I responded to Brad. My result on this test was 0.52 and they like to see 50 or above for good implantation and a healthy pregnancy. I am not producing the necessary antibodies needed to protect the baby from miscarriage or stimulate the placenta. The solution (hopefully) to this issue is lymphocyte immunization therapy (LIT). I have explained this before but I will again just in case you missed it the last time.
LIT is when they draw blood from your husband and the lymphocytes are extracted and made into a serum. Then the serum is injected into the wife's forearm just under the skin. After 3-4 weeks the process is repeated. It's not that expensive and seems to raise pregnancy rates when this DNA thing is a problem. Unfortunately it's not available in the United States. In January 2002, the FDA suspended the use of LIT in the US until they can establish its effectiveness. The only way to get this treatment is to go out of the country and Mexico is the closest place. The reproductive immunologist in CA used to perform LIT before it was suspended by the FDA with good results. He even said since the suspension their pregnancy rates have gone down because not everyone is willing to travel to Mexico to get this done. We are willing!!!!So now we have passports and we are just waiting on our infectious disease panel results to book our first trip to Mexico. Yes, we are crazy people. We just want a baby, our own genetic baby if possible.
I have a few other issues but they aren't as severe as the one above. My antiphospholipid antibodies test(APA) test was positive, autoantibody to nuclear components test was borderline positive. My T regulatory cell assay demonstrated low T regulatory cell level which are implicated in miscarriage and implantation failure. I had elevated NK killing capacity and had three thrombophilia positives: MTHFR A Heterozygous, PAI-1 homozygous, Factor XIII heterozygous. I already knew about my blood clotting factors but I didn't start my Lovenox injections early enough during my last pregnancy.
So here's the plan:
Take the first trip to Mexico as soon as we receive infectious disease results to do the first LIT injection.
3-4 weeks later, return to Mexico for the subsequent injection.
3-4 weeks later, recheck LAD (the test that I scored a 0.52 on) and NK cells.
Take folic acid for MTHFR, baby aspirin, vitamins D and E, prenatal vitamins.
If cleared for a conception cycle, intralipid infusions for elevated NK cells if needed.
If intralipids are still elevated, begin IVIg infusions.
Begin Lovenox injections on cycle day 6.
Take progesterone suppositories.
*I have an appointment this month with a local RE to see if he is on board with these treatments. If not, we will have to contact someone else to work with us on these issues before we can start with the plan. Not everyone is a believer in reproductive immunology yet.
If we get pregnant, we will have a CBC with platelet count every month while on Lovenox, retest APA, retest ANA, retest TH1:TH2 intracellular cytokine assay and retest our T regulatory cell assay. If T regulatory cell assay is abnormal, they will continue to test through the first trimester. NK assay testing will be repeated every 3 weeks starting with positive pregnancy testing, then monthly after the first trimester. A Beta should be drawn every 3 days until a heartbeat is established. Progesterone level should be preformed at the time of a positive pregnancy test and weekly through first trimester. Test TSH and Free T4 (thyroid tests since I have a history of thyroiditis) with a positive pregnancy test and then as needed.
It has taken us a while to get all these answers but needless to say, everyone is going to keep a close watch on me before and after a pregnancy. That is such a comforting feeling. I loved reading the part about heartbeats and first trimesters. I hope and pray we get to those stages and beyond. We covet your prayers as we begin our next steps on this journey we call infertility. I pray for you girls daily.
