No significant leukocytosis under controlled ovarian stimulation using theLHRH antagonist Cetrorelix and recFSH

Objective: To study the influence of an LHRH (luteinizing hormone releasing hormone) antagonist protocol (Cetrorelix) and the use of recombinant folli cle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on the development of leukocytosis, compared to the use of urinary HMG (human menopausal gonadotrophin). Design: Prospec tive, randomized phase III clinical trial. Setting: Infertility day clinic, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Patients: Thirty patients undergo ing IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment following control led ovarian stimulation using a multiple dose protocol and the LHRH antagon ist Cetrorelix. Main outcome measure: Differences in white blood cell (WBC) count before stimulation, during the follicular phase and in the midluteal phase. Results: Statistically significant increase in WBC count in the HMG group from the start of stimulation to the midluteal phase. No statistical ly significant increase in the recFSH group, but only a trend towards highe r values was observed. Conclusion: The development of a leukocytosis in con trolled ovarian stimulation does not depend on the protocol used. Urinary g onadotrophins seem to have a greater potential to increase WBC count compar ed to recombinant gonadotrophins. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. Al l rights reserved.