The effect of LH Receptor in the Pregnancy of Poor Responders / 대한불임학회지

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of LH receptor in folliculogenesis, we confirm the expression level of LH receptor (LH-R) mRNA in human granulosa cells (GCs) and its expression levels were analyzed by comparison to embryo developmental rate and pregnancy rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GCs were obtained at the time of oocyte retrieval from the patients undergoing IVF-ET program. The patients were divided into two groups: Group I (n=20) is poor responder (retrieved oocyte(s)3ea). After the extraction of total RNA, semiquantitative RT-PCR was performed and the expression level of LH-R mRNA was normalized by beta-actin. Statistical analysis was performed by using Chi(2) test, Student's t-test and Pearson correlation. RESULTS: In Group II, the relative values of LH-R mRNA (0.680 vs. 0.463, p<0.005) and pregnancy rate (54.7% vs. 23.1%, p<0.05) were significantly higher than in Group I. Number of retrieved oocyte(s) was gradually increased when the expression of LH-R mRNA was increased (p<0.05). But the quality of retrieved oocyte and transferred embryo were not related with the expression of LH-R mRNA. When the pregnancy rate was compared with FSH only group and FSH combined with hMG group in the ovarian stimulation protocol, FSH combined with hMG group was significantly higher than FSH only group in Group I (37.5% vs. 0%), and the expression of LH-R mRNA was significantly higher in hMG combined group than FSH only group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Expression level of LH-R mRNA has important role in ovarian function related with the response to gonadotrophin in human folliculogenesis. Furthermore these data might provide the evidence that additional use of hMG is helpful to poor responders.

Clinical Efficacy and Hormonal Change of GnRH Antagonist in Controlled Ovarian Stimulation for IVF-ET / 대한불임학회지

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of GnRH antagonist cetrorelix in women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and to determine changes in serum hormone concentrations during cetrorelix administration. METHODS: We performed a clinical trial on 30 patients undergoing COH with highly purified follicular stimulating hormone (HP-FSH) and gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist (GnRHant), cetrorelix. FSH was administrated from day 2 or 3 of cycle with fixed dose and adjusted according to individual response. 0.25 mg of cetrorelix was injected daily subcutaneously from stimulation day 5 until the day of hCG administration. Daily ultrasound monitoring was performed for growing follicles and serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2) and progesterone were measured daily during cetrorelix administration. Up to 4 embryos were transferred. RESULTS: Mean age of enrolled patients was 32.0+/-3.4 years (mean +/-S.D.). All of 30 patients underwent oocyte pick-up, and embryo transfer was done in 28 patients. The total and mean numbers of received oocytes were 196 and 6.5+/-4.7, the number of fertilized eggs was 111, and the fertilization rate was 56.6%. Total duration of FSH administration was 9.2+/-2.2 days and mean of 24.3+/-7.7 ampules of HP-FSH was administered. Total duration of cetrorelix administration was 5.7+/-1.9 days. Serum LH and progesterone levels were maintained in the range of 1.4~2.9 mIU/mL and 0.3~0.6 ng/ mL, which respectively reflected effective prevention of premature LH surge. Clinical pregnancies were achieved in 9 patients, and overall clinical pregnancy rate was 30.0% per oocyte retrieval, and 32.1% per embryo transfer. CONCLUSION: GnRH antagonist is safe and convenient for COH for IVF-ET and effective with optimal pregnancy rate.

Pregnancies Complicated by Maternal Heart Diseases / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To assess the pregnancy outcomes complicated by maternal heart diseases. METHODS: From 1994 to 2001, medical records of pregnant women who had reached at least 20 weeks of gestation with maternal heart diseases were reviewed. RESULTS: 224 deliveries of 195 women were enrolled in this study. In 117 (52.2%) cases the heart diseases were of rheumatic origin, in 96 (42.9%) cases congenital, and the remaining 11 (4.9%) cases were miscellaneous group that included arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, and mitral valve prolapse. There were 2 (0.9%) cases of maternal death related to pregnancy. Majority (91.9%) were in New York Heart Association functional classes I, II before, during, and after delivery. Mean gestational age at birth and birth weight were 37.9 weeks and 2883 gm. Perinatal mortality rate was 17.9/1000 and the rate of congenital malformation was 2.7%. Recurrence risk of neonatal congenital heart disease was 2.1%. CONCLUSION: Most complications were developed in the pregnancies complicated by maternal heart diseases with New York Heart Association functional classes III, IV. Functional status of the pregnant women is the important risk factor in maternal and fetal outcomes.

Transfer of Human Blastocyst Following In Vitro Culture for Five Days in In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of human blastocyst transfer following in vitro culture for five days in in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET), and to compare the efficiency of P1-BL and G1-G2 media in the culture of human blastocyst. METHODS: Seventy-two infertile patients undergoing blastocyst transfer in IVF-ET were classified into the conventional IVF (n=52) and ICSI (n=20) groups, and P1-BL (n=37) and G1-G2 (n=35) groups. The outcomes of blastocyst transfer cycles were evaluated and compared, respectively. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the outcomes of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and IVF-ET, such as duration of COH, total dosage of gonadotropins used, serum estradiol (E2) level on hCG day, numbers of oocytes retrieved and fertilized, and number of blastocysts transferred between the conventional IVF and ICSI groups, and between P1-BL and G1-G2 groups, respectively. Total blastulation rate was significantly higher in IVF group than ICSI group (53.6% vs. 37.3%, p<0.05). Implantation, clinical pregnancy, and multiple pregnancy rates were significantly higher in IVF group than ICSI group (15.1% vs. 4.1%, p<0.05; 36.5% vs. 15.0%, p<0.05; 36.8% vs. 0%, p<0.01). There were no significant differences in total blastulation, implantation, and clinical pregnancy rates between P1-BL and G1-G2 groups. However, multiple pregnancy rate was significantly higher in G1-G2 group than P1-BL group (60.0% vs. 8.3%, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In human blastocyst transfer following in vitro culture for five days in IVF-ET, conventional IVF showed better outcomes of embryo development and pregnancy than ICSI. The efficiency of P1-BL media in the culture of human blastocyst was comparable to that of G1-G2 media. Further investigation will be necessary to compare the efficiency of various media in the blastocyst culture and to confirm the risk of multiple pregnancy in cases using G1-G2 media.

Transfer of Human Blastocyst Following In Vitro Culture for Five Days in In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of human blastocyst transfer following in vitro culture for five days in in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET), and to compare the efficiency of P1-BL and G1-G2 media in the culture of human blastocyst. METHODS: Seventy-two infertile patients undergoing blastocyst transfer in IVF-ET were classified into the conventional IVF (n=52) and ICSI (n=20) groups, and P1-BL (n=37) and G1-G2 (n=35) groups. The outcomes of blastocyst transfer cycles were evaluated and compared, respectively. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the outcomes of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and IVF-ET, such as duration of COH, total dosage of gonadotropins used, serum estradiol (E2) level on hCG day, numbers of oocytes retrieved and fertilized, and number of blastocysts transferred between the conventional IVF and ICSI groups, and between P1-BL and G1-G2 groups, respectively. Total blastulation rate was significantly higher in IVF group than ICSI group (53.6% vs. 37.3%, p<0.05). Implantation, clinical pregnancy, and multiple pregnancy rates were significantly higher in IVF group than ICSI group (15.1% vs. 4.1%, p<0.05; 36.5% vs. 15.0%, p<0.05; 36.8% vs. 0%, p<0.01). There were no significant differences in total blastulation, implantation, and clinical pregnancy rates between P1-BL and G1-G2 groups. However, multiple pregnancy rate was significantly higher in G1-G2 group than P1-BL group (60.0% vs. 8.3%, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In human blastocyst transfer following in vitro culture for five days in IVF-ET, conventional IVF showed better outcomes of embryo development and pregnancy than ICSI. The efficiency of P1-BL media in the culture of human blastocyst was comparable to that of G1-G2 media. Further investigation will be necessary to compare the efficiency of various media in the blastocyst culture and to confirm the risk of multiple pregnancy in cases using G1-G2 media.