Successful ART outcome with donor oocytes in female Kartagener’s syndrome: a case report and follow-up

A 30-year-old woman presented with a history of infertility. 

The couple has tried unprotected copulation for several years. They had also undergone by multiple unsuccessful intrauterine insemination (IUI) interventions over the past 8 years. The patient was in a non-consanguineous marriage. The female had polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) with regular menstrual cycles. 

A detailed history revealed primary infertility. The patient exhibited classic symptoms of Kartagener's syndrome, including – situs inversus, chronic sinusitis, and bronchiectasis. Karyotyping revealed normal results, and there were no other notable medical histories, including surgeries. The 34-year-old male partner had normal semen and hormonal parameters. 

The first intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle using the patient's own oocytes and her husband's sperm resulted in a pregnancy; however, she experienced a miscarriage at 11 weeks. In the second attempt, using donor oocytes and her husband's sperm, the patient achieved another pregnancy but miscarried at 9 weeks. Finally, the patient underwent a third attempt using frozen embryo transfer with extra embryos, which resulted in a successful pregnancy. 

She delivered a live female baby who was followed up for 8 years. 

This case represents the first reported instance in India, of a patient with Kartagener's syndrome undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART) treatment with donor oocytes. The findings suggest that IUI may not be the most suitable treatment option for female patients with Kartagener's syndrome.

Source: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10815-023-02794-z