The levels of C-reactive protein in women treated by IVF.
BACKGROUND
The complex regulation of endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation involves cytokines, several of which are stimulators of the acute-phase reactant C-reactive protein (CRP). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of serum CRP in women treated by IVF.


METHODS
Seventy-two women who underwent IVF treatment were prospectively studied. The levels of serum CRP were evaluated on the following days: oocyte retrieval, embryo transfer, 5, 6 or 7 days afterwards and 12 days after embryo transfer.


RESULTS
CRP levels increased from 6.8 +/- 9.5 mg/l on oocyte retrieval day to 14.6 +/- 12.5 mg/l on days 5-7 post-transfer (P<0.0001). The ratios of CRP levels for transfer day/pick-up day were 1.2 in women who conceived versus 2.5 in the non-pregnant group (P=0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
In women treated by IVF the concentrations of CRP in blood increase significantly during the first week following oocyte retrieval. Successful outcome is associated with a relative small increment in CRP on the day of embryo transfer.
Almagor
Miriam
M
Division of Clinical Laboratories, Bikur Cholim Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. malmagor@bikurholim.org.il
Hazav
Albert
A
Yaffe
Haim
H
D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting
D002097:C-Reactive Protein