PROSTANOID EXCRETION BEFORE IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION RELATES TO THE LIKELIHOOD OF PREGNANCY

The objective of this study was to determine the urinary excretion of prostacyclin (PGI(2)) and thromboxane A(2)(TXA(2)) metabolites during in vitro fertilization (IVF) in relation to the clinical outcome of IV F. Urine was obtained overnight every 3 to 4 days from 24 women during IVF cycles, TXB(2), 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) and their 2,3-dinor derivativ es were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography with radio-imm unoassay. The patients were women with (n = 16, 119 samples) and witho ut (n = 8, 53 samples) a clinical IVF pregnancy, Concentrations of 2,3 -dinor-TXB(2) and 2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) were lower before embr yo transfer in women who achieved a pregnancy than in those who did no t conceive (p < 0.05). Contrary to women who did not conceive, women w ho achieved pregnancy had an increase in 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) excretion after embryo transfer (p = 0.04), In women who did not conceive, leve ls of 2,3-dinor-TXB(2) were higher before embryo transfer than after t ransfer (p = 0.04) and than levels in women who did conceive (p = 0.01 ). We concluded that differences in urinary prostanoid metabolite excr etion before embryo transfer appear to relate to the likelihood of pre gnancy, but the nature of this relationship remains elusive.