Follicular blood flow is a better predictor of the outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer than follicular fluid vascular endothelial growth factor and nitric oxide concentrations.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between follicular blood flow and the follicular fluid vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations and to determine which factor might be a better predictor of the outcome of IVF-ET.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Academic research laboratory.


METHODS
Forty-seven cycles of IVF (tubal factor, 25 cycles; male factor, 22 cycles) at the infertility clinic of Pusan National University Hospital from February 2002 to June 2002.


METHODS
Follicular blood flow was estimated on the day of hCG administration. Each follicular fluid sample was collected at oocyte retrieval, and follicular fluid VEGF and NO concentrations were assessed.


METHODS
Follicular blood flow and follicular fluid VEGF and NO concentrations according to the age of patients, the cause of infertility, and pregnancy rate.


RESULTS
Of 47 cycles, 18 (38.3%) cycles resulted in a pregnancy. Follicular blood flow was significantly higher in the pregnant group compared with the nonpregnant group, but there was no statistically significant difference in age and infertility cause. Follicular fluid concentrations of VEGF and NO did not show statistically significant differences in age, infertility cause, or pregnancy outcome. As the follicle size increases, the follicular blood flow and follicular fluid VEGF concentrations increased significantly but the follicular fluid NO concentrations decreased. There was no correlation between VEGF and NO concentrations in the follicular fluid by linear regression analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed that follicular blood flow was positively associated with the outcome of pregnancy. This is the first study to investigate the direct association of the follicular blood flow with pregnancy outcome after IVF-ET. These results suggest that follicular blood flow might be a more effective prognostic marker of the pregnancy outcome of IVF than follicular fluid VEGF or NO concentrations.
Kim
Ki Hyung
KH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, 1-10 Amidong, Seoku, Busan 602-739, Korea.
Oh
Dae Sik
DS
Jeong
Jae Heok
JH
Shin
Byung Sub
BS
Joo
Bo Sun
BS
Lee
Kyu Sup
KS
D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000098:blood supply*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D009569:Nitric Oxide