title: Concentrations of endometrial protein PP 14 and CA-125 in uterine flushings performed in natural and stimulated cycles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Impaired implantation in assisted reproduction cycles with high serum estradiol (E(2)) concentrations may be attributed to abnormal endometrial development. This study compared concentrations of endometrial proteins in uterine flushings of infertile patients between natural and stimulated cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients received a standard regimen of ovarian stimulation. Seven days after the LH surge in natural cycles or the hCG injection in stimulated cycles, uterine flushings were performed by slowly injecting and aspirating normal saline through a paediatric Foley catheter. Natural cycles were considered as group A whereas stimulated cycles with serum E(2) <20 000 pmol/l and serum E(2) >20 000 pmol/l were classified as groups B and C respectively. PP 14 and CA-125 in uterine flushings were measured and expressed per total protein content.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concentrations of the total protein, PP 14 and CA-125 in the uterine flushings were similar among the three groups. PP 14 per total protein in the uterine flushings was significantly correlated with serum E(2) on the day of hCG (r = 0.459; P = 0.009) in natural cycles only but not in stimulated cycles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no significant difference between natural and stimulated cycles in concentrations of PP 14 and CA-125 in uterine flushings performed in the mid-luteal phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China. nghye@hkucc.hku.hk
authors.forename: Ernest Hung Yu
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Susan Margaret
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Laird
authors.forename: Tin Chiu
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: William Shu Biu
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Pak Chung
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008183:Luteal Phase; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation
chemical_list: D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins; C045246:PAEP protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D004958:Estradiol