title: Effects of recombinant LH (rLH) supplementation during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) in normogonadotrophic women with an initial inadequate response to recombinant FSH (rFSH) after pituitary downregulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of different recombinant LH (rLH) doses on the ovarian outcome of normogonadotrophic women with an initial inadequate response to recombinant FSH (rFSH) after pituitary downregulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Only women undergoing a 'long protocol' with a GnRH-agonist followed by rFSH administration were enrolled. On the eighth day of stimulation, 46 patients with serum E2 levels < 180 pg/ml and with no follicle > 10 mm were randomized in two groups to receive a supplementation with a daily rLH dose of 75 (group A) or 150 IU (group B), respectively. Forty-six normal responders continuing their monotherapy with rFSH formed the control group (C).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean number of oocytes retrieved and the percentage of mature oocytes in the group B (9.65 +/- 2.16, 79.0%) were comparable with those observed in the group C (10.65 +/- 2.8, 82.5%) and significantly higher when compared with the group A (6.39 +/- 1.53, 65.7%). The mean number of ampoules of rLH was significantly higher in the group B (14.4 +/- 2.0 vs. 9.65 +/- 1.1), whereas these patients received a significantly lower mean number of rFSH ampoules (44.6 +/- 7.4 vs. 36.1 +/- 3.8). Seven (30.4%), 9 (39.1%) and 22 (47.8%) pregnancies were achieved in the groups A, B and C, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that patients with initial inadequate responses to rFSH after pituitary downregulation benefit from the addition of a daily dose of 150 IU of rLH, starting from the eighth day of stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Universitario di Scienze Ostetriche Ginecologiche e Medicina della Riproduzione, Area Funzionale di Medicina della Riproduzione ed Endoscopia Ginecologica, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Placido
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alviggi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mollo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Strina
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ranieri
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alviggi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilding
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Varricchio
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Borrelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Conforti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010050:Ovarian Function Tests; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone