Human Reproduction, Vol 13, 1962-1967, Copyright © 1998 by Oxford University Press
NA Bersinger, A Brandenberger, E Berger, CK Baumann and MH Birkhauser
We have previously observed the repeated presence of low but detectable
amounts of the trophoblast marker pregnancy-specific beta1-glycoprotein
(SP1) in the serum of some women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF)
treatment around the time of oocyte retrieval. The occurrence of these
signals seemed to be restricted to a defined group of patients which also
showed a lower pregnancy success rate in a preliminary study. To test our
hypothesis we have analysed 173 consecutive cycles leading to an embryo
transfer. Fifty-four cycles (31%) had a serum SP1 level of at least 0.1
ng/ml between days embryo transfer -5 and embryo transfer (group A). Five
pregnancies were obtained in this group (pregnancy rate = 9.3%), while in
group B, defined by the absence of detectable SP1 before embryo transfer
(119 cycles), 36 ongoing pregnancies 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-time group B women (9/23 versus 1/10 for group A).
Patients tended to remain in their groups A or B, the latter being
associated with a better immediate as well as subsequent chance for
pregnancy. Group A cycles had 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 hormone-independent factor in some patients could stimulate
tonic ectopic SP1 synthesis and at the same time negatively influence
endometrial development.
ARTICLES
Serum pregnancy-specific beta1-glycoprotein before embryo transfer is related to endometrial thickness and to outcome prognosis in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization treatment
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Berne, Switzerland.
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