Serum inhibin B levels measured early during FSH administration for IVF may be of value in predicting the number of oocytes to be retrieved in normal and low responders.
BACKGROUND
In a previous study we have found that in normal ovulatory women, serum inhibin B levels on days 4-6 of FSH administration correlated with the number of oocytes retrieved. In the current study we examined the significance of earlier inhibin B measurements in predicting the oocyte number, in both normal and low responders.


METHODS
Study A consisted of 19 patients undergoing their first IVF cycle (n = 10) or had a normal response ( vertical line 6 oocytes retrieved, n = 9), while study B consisted of 15 patients with a previous low ovarian response (<or=5 oocytes retrieved). All patients had day 3 FSH levels <10 IU/l. After pituitary suppression, 300 (study A) or 600 IU (study B) of pure FSH was administered daily. Serum FSH, inhibin A, inhibin B and estradiol (E(2)) were determined prior to and every 1-2 days throughout FSH treatment.


RESULTS
Study A: oocyte number between 4 and 14 correlated significantly with serum inhibin B levels on all days of FSH treatment, and with inhibin A and E(2) late during treatment. No correlation was found between inhibin B and when oocyte number was >16. Study B: oocyte number correlated significantly with inhibin B and inhibin A on all days of FSH treatment, even on day 2 (r = 0.90, P < 0.001 and r = 0.65, P < 0.05 for inhibin B and A respectively). No significant correlation was found with E(2) levels. In both studies, all patients with inhibin B >100 pg/ml on treatment day 2 had >6 oocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that serum inhibin B measured early during FSH stimulation may indicate whether sufficient oocytes will be retrieved, in both normal and low responders. Serum inhibin B measured during early FSH treatment may be of predictive value in monitoring ovarian stimulation treatment for IVF.
Eldar-Geva
T
T
IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ben-Gurion University, P.O.Box 3235, Jerusalem 91031, Israel. gevat@szmc.org.il
Margalioth
E J
EJ
Ben-Chetrit
A
A
Gal
M
M
Robertson
D M
DM
Healy
D L
DL
Diamant
Y Z
YZ
Spitz
I M
IM
D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005544:Forecasting; D006728:Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D009865:Oocytes; D012016:Reference Values; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting
D006728:Hormones; C422364:inhibin B; D007265:Inhibins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone