Treatment of female infertility with recombinant human luteinising hormone: is there a benefit over other available drugs?
This manuscript reviews the role of recombinant human luteinising hormone (rhLH) as a therapeutic drug in ovarian stimulation for assisted reproductive technology (ART) and ovulation induction. For this purpose, the role of LH during the follicular phase and during the ovulatory surge, along with the role of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as a surrogate LH, is reviewed and compared to the results available with the new rhLH formulation. The use of rhLH was found to be safe and highly effective given during the follicular phase and to mimic an endogenous LH surge. The availability of both LH and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) as separate recombinant preparations enables physicians to adjust the doses of each gonadotropin to the individual patient according to the 'therapeutic window' concept for each drug to maximise the success of ovarian stimulation.
Reproductive Medicine and Infertility Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot 76100, Israel. zeev@cc.huji.ac.il
Zeev
Z
Shoham
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone