Measurement of Luteinizing Hormone Level After Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist Trigger Is Not Useful for Predicting Oocyte Maturity.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether the measurement of LH after GnRH agonist trigger is correlated with the proportion of mature oocytes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study at a private, university-affiliated fertility centre in Vancouver, BC. Patients who underwent IVF/ICSI cycles and used a GnRH agonist trigger were included. Serum LH levels were measured on the day of trigger and one day later. The main study outcome measure was the proportion of mature oocytes. RESULTS: Including all 97 cycles in the cohort, the average post-trigger LH level was 69.3 IU/L (10.5-133.3 IU/L) and the average rise was 66.8 IU/L (10.0-129.4 IU/L). The mean number of oocytes collected was 17 and, on average, 82% were mature. We did not find any association between post-trigger LH levels (r = 0.004, P = 0.968) or rise in LH level (r = 0.01, P = 0.92) and the proportion of mature oocytes collected. The percentage rise in LH level was also not predictive of the proportion of mature oocytes in the estradiol and oral contraceptive pill groups separately (estradiol r = 0.118, OCP r = 0.07; P > 0.05) or together (r = 0.1, P = 0.34). CONCLUSION: Neither the absolute post-trigger LH level nor the rise in LH level is predictive of the proportion of mature oocytes collected. Taken together with the excellent response to GnRH agonist trigger evidenced by the average oocyte maturity, we do not believe it is necessary to measure post-trigger LH levels.

Peak Serum Estradiol Level During Controlled Ovarian Stimulation Is not Associated with Lower Levels of Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A or Small for Gestational Age Infants: A Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: During controlled ovarian stimulation in IVF, supraphysiologic levels of estradiol (E2) have been associated with poor placentation and adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to investigate whether high peak E2 on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin trigger is associated with low pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and adverse perinatal outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study at a private, university-affiliated fertility centre in Vancouver, BC. We enrolled 216 patients with a singleton pregnancy after fresh embryo transfer who also underwent first trimester screening. Adverse perinatal outcomes were collected from a local registry and included preterm birth, hypertension in pregnancy, antepartum hemorrhage, intrauterine growth restriction, SGA, stillbirth, admission to the NICU, and neonatal death. RESULTS: High serum E2 (≥13 035 pmol/L) at controlled ovarian stimulation was not correlated with low PAPP-A (<0.4 multiples of the median) at first trimester screening (P = 0.46). When each adverse outcome was analysed separately, there was no association between high E2 and any of the outcomes (P > 0.05 for all). High peak E2 was not associated with a total composite of maternal and neonatal adverse birth outcomes (P = 0.30). CONCLUSION: Our results do not support the theory that high E2 at fresh embryo transfer impedes placentation. We found no association between peak E2 and low PAPP-A levels or adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Spontaneous Rupture of Leiomyoma Diagnosed Preoperatively with Noncontrast Computed Tomography.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous rupture of benign uterine fibroids is extremely rare and has been associated with fibroid degeneration. It can cause acute intraperitoneal bleeding requiring immediate surgical intervention. CASE: A previously healthy 50-year-old, Caucasian, nullipara presented with syncope, hemodynamic instability, and an acute abdomen. Noncontrast computed tomography images showed a positive sentinel clot sign in the pelvis as well as a large uterine fibroid with internal hyperdense clot suggesting acute rupture. Urgent laparotomy and hysterectomy confirmed a ruptured, actively bleeding, uterine fibroid with final pathological diagnosis of a benign leiomyoma. CONCLUSION: Prompt diagnosis and emergency surgical intervention were necessary to control acute hemorrhage from a ruptured uterine fibroid. Noncontrast computed tomography is an important adjunct to contrast-enhanced computed tomography and was vital for diagnosis in this case.