Plasmanate as a medium supplement for in vitro fertilization.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of Plasmanate, a protein preparation containing human serum albumin and mixed globulins to autologous preovulatory maternal serum, as an in vitro fertilization (IVF) medium supplement. Plasmanate was used most often in cases involving unexplained infertility, sperm antibodies, and endometriosis or when serum was unavailable.


RESULTS
In a retrospective analysis of 1019 consecutive IVF cycles, Plasmanate was used as the protein supplement to the fertilization medium in 28.6% and maternal serum was used in 71.4% of the attempts. Attempting to eliminate the effects of different medium lots and laboratory conditions, 450 matched patient cycles were compared using the two protein supplements. Finally, the effects of Plasmanate versus maternal serum were compared in prospective randomized trial on patients diagnosed with tubal infertility who were attempting IVF for the first time. The clinical pregnancy rate was 34% for the Plasmanate group versus 24% for those using maternal serum in the retrospective investigation. However, this trend was reversed in the prospective trial.


CONCLUSIONS
Although further investigation is necessary, it appears that Plasmanate is an appropriate protein substitute in patient cases where serum is absent or unsuitable.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York 10021.
A
A
Adler
A M
AM
Reing
J M
JM
Bedford
M
M
Alikani
J
J
Cohen
D000328:Adult; D001798:Blood Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010952:Plasma Substitutes; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human; D012712:Serum Globulins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001798:Blood Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D010952:Plasma Substitutes; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012712:Serum Globulins; C008930:plasma protein fraction; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human