Abstract

BACKGROUND The p53 tumour suppressor gene is a well-known factor regulating apoptosis in a wide variety of cells. Alterations in the p53 gene are among the most common genetic changes in human cancers. Several polymorphisms of the p53 tumour suppressor gene have been associated with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). AIMS To evaluate the association of polymorphisms p53 codon 72 with the response to in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment and occurrence of repeated miscarriages. METHODS The homozygous and heterozygous genotypes and allelic frequencies of Arg and Pro p53 at codon 72 were identified by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique in 70 infertile women with more than two IVF failures. Each comparison was made with 97 women experiencing RPL and 32 fertile women each with at least two healthy children as the control group. RESULTS The frequency of homozygous Pro/Pro genotypes was found significantly higher among the women with RPL than the other two groups (P = 0.041). Whereas, Arg/Arg genotype was significantly different in the recurrent implantation failure (RIF) group (P = 0.005). CONCLUSION It is concluded that p53 codon 72 polymorphism may serve as a susceptible factor affecting the chances of RPL and RIF.