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

Citation
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
Citations number
11
Categorie Soggetti
Reproductive Biology","Obsetric & Gynecology
ISSN journal
02681161
Volume
13
Issue
7
Year of publication
1998
Pages
1962 - 1967
Database
ISI
SICI code
0268-1161(1998)13:7<1962:SPBBEI>2.0.ZU;2-U
Abstract
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.