SERUM PREGNANCY-SPECIFIC BETA(1)-GLYCOPROTEIN BEFORE EMBRYO-TRANSFER IS RELATED TO ENDOMETRIAL THICKNESS AND TO OUTCOME PROGNOSIS IN WOMEN UNDERGOING IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION TREATMENT
Na. Bersinger et al., SERUM PREGNANCY-SPECIFIC BETA(1)-GLYCOPROTEIN BEFORE EMBRYO-TRANSFER IS RELATED TO ENDOMETRIAL THICKNESS AND TO OUTCOME PROGNOSIS IN WOMEN UNDERGOING IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION TREATMENT, Human reproduction (Oxford. Print), 13(7), 1998, pp. 1962-1967
We have previously observed the repeated presence of low but detectabl
e amounts of the trophoblast marker pregnancy-specific beta(1)-glycopr
otein (SP1) in the serum of some women undergoing in-vitro fertilizati
on (IVF) treatment around the time of oocyte retrieval. The occurrence
of these signals seemed to be restricted to a defined group of patien
ts which also showed a lower pregnancy success rate in a preliminary s
tudy, To test our hypothesis we have analysed 173 consecutive cycles l
eading to an embryo transfer, Fifty-four cycles (31%) had a serum SP1
level of at least 0.1 ng/ml bet between days embryo transfer -5 and em
bryo transfer (group A). Five pregnancies were obtained in this group
(pregnancy rate = 9.3%), while in group B, defined by the absence of d
etectable SP1 before embryo transfer (119 cycles), 36 ongoing pregnanc
ies were achieved (30.3%). Ten of the 41 pregnancies were achieved in
33 first-time non-pregnant patients undergoing further attempts during
the study period. Again the pregnancy rate was higher in the first-ti
me group B women (9/23 versus 1/10 for group A). Patients tended to re
main in their groups A or B, the latter being associated with a better
immediate as web as subsequent chance for pregnancy. Group A cycles h
ad a significantly lower endometrial thickness two days before oocyte
retrieval than group B (P = 0.0011), We postulate that the presence of
an unknown, maternal and progesterone- or follicle stimulating hormon
e-independent factor in some patients could stimulate tonic ectopic SP
1 synthesis and at the same time negatively influence endometrial deve
lopment.