title: Ovarian androgens but not estrogens correlate with the degree of systemic inflammation observed during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the behavior and association of serum androgen and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for in vitro fertilization (IVF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, observational study.Setting. An IVF unit of an academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood was drawn three times during the COH cycle from 15 patients undergoing the long gonadotropin-releasing hormone-analog protocol: the day on which adequate suppression was obtained (Day-S); the day of or prior to administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (Day-hCG); and the day of ovum pick-up (Day-OPU). Levels of sex steroids and serum CRP were compared among the three time points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant increase in serum ovarian androgen levels during gonadotropin treatment. After hCG administration, there was a significant increase in the levels of both serum CRP and ovarian androgens (testosterone, androstenedione), with no significant change in adrenal androgen (dehydroepiandrosterone). Significant correlations were observed between CRP and ovarian androgen levels but not with dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate or estradiol levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients undergoing COH for IVF, ovarian androgen levels increase in correlation with the degree of inflammation, as reflected by CRP levels. Further studies are necessary to elucidate whether androgens play a role in or are predictive of the systemic inflammatory response in COH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstertrics and Gynecology, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel. raoulo@barzi.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Raoul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Orvieto
authors.forename: Naama
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fisch
authors.forename: Vered
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yulzari-Roll
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Marca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists; D006801:Humans; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D002097:C-Reactive Protein