title: Serum oestradiol and beta-HCG measurements after day 3 or 5 embryo transfers in interpreting pregnancy outcome.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical value of serum oestradiol concentration 8 days after embryo transfer (D8E2) and beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG-beta) concentration 12 days after embryo transfer (D12HCG-beta) in the prediction of pregnancy and the outcome of pregnancy following assisted reproduction, taking into account the day of transfer, which was either day 3 (D3) or day 5 (D5). The objective was to improve patient counselling by giving quantitative and reliable predictive information instead of non-specific uncertainties. A total of 2035 embryo transfer cycles performed between January 2003 and June 2005 were analysed retrospectively. Biochemical pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy and first-trimester abortions were classified as non-viable pregnancies; pregnancies beyond 12 weeks gestation were classified as ongoing pregnancies (OP). Significantly higher D8E2 and D12HCG-beta were obtained in D5 transfers compared with D3 transfers with regard to pregnancy and OP (P<or=0.001). For D3 embryo transfers, the cut-off value of D8E2 in predicting OP was 130 pg/ml (sensitivity 80%, specificity 72%), compared with 98 mIU/ml (sensitivity 89%, specificity 69%) for D12HCG-beta. For D5 embryo transfers, the values were 179 pg/ml (sensitivity 79%, specificity 84%) and 257 mIU/ml (sensitivity 78%, specificity 81%) respectively. It appears that serum post-embryo transfer D8E2 and D12HCG-beta concentrations provided clear information regarding pregnancy and the outcome of pregnancy following IVF-embryo transfer.
authors.affiliation: Istanbul Memorial Hospital, ART and Genetics Centre, Istanbul, Turkey. bkumbak@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Banu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kumbak
authors.forename: Engin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oral
authors.forename: Guvenc
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karlikaya
authors.forename: Selman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lacin
authors.forename: Semra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kahraman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D012372:ROC Curve; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D004958:Estradiol