title: Aromatase inhibitors in ovarian stimulation for IVF/ICSI: a pilot study.
abstract: This prospective randomized pilot study was aimed at investigating the effect of the novel addition of aromatase inhibitors to an ovarian stimulation protocol for IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, on endocrine parameters including serum androgen, oestrogen, progesterone, LH and FSH concentrations. The patients were randomized to receiving letrozole (group A; n = 10), versus no letrozole (group B; n = 10) in an ovarian stimulation protocol with recombinant FSH 150 IU/day starting on day 2 of the cycle, and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist 0.25 mg/day starting on day 6 of the cycle. Median LH concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in group A versus group B during letrozole administration. Median serum oestradiol concentrations were lower in group A versus group B, and median serum FSH, testosterone and androstenedione concentrations were higher in group A versus group B, throughout the follicular phase, without reaching significance. Median endometrial thickness was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in group A versus group B on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin administration. Pregnancies were achieved. This pilot study supports the idea that aromatase inhibitors can contribute to normal potential of implantation and follicular response, without having negative anti-oestrogenic effects.
authors.affiliation: Academic Hospital of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 101 Laarbeeklaan, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium. willem.verpoest@az.vub.ac.be
authors.forename: Willem M J A
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Verpoest
authors.forename: Efstratios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kolibianakis
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papanikolaou
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smitz
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Steirteghem
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Devroey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007248:Infertility, Male; D000077289:Letrozole; D008297:Male; D009570:Nitriles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D006728:Hormones; D009570:Nitriles; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014230:Triazoles; D000077289:Letrozole; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone