title: Serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin levels at 16 days following embryo transfer in intra cytoplasmic sperm injection cycles to predict pregnancy outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prognostic value of beta human chorionic gonadotropin (B-hCG) concentration on the sixteenth day after embryo transfer to predict pregnancy outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective cohort study, B-hCG levels were measured in 97 pregnant women that underwent intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in Fatemeh-Zahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran from January 2008 to December 2009. Type, duration, causes of infertility, and age of patients, B-hCG levels on the sixteenth day after embryo transfer, the number of embryos, and pregnancy outcome were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incidence of viable pregnancies in B-hCG levels less than 100 IU/L (n=18) was 38.9%, and in B-hCG levels more than or equal to 100 IU/L (n=79) was 84.4%. Correlation of B-hCG with pregnancy outcome was significant (p less than 0.001). Cut-off value of B-hCG to predict viable pregnancy was 100 IU/L (sensitivity - 91%, specificity - 48%, PPV - 85%, and NPV - 61%). The B-hCG levels less than or equal to 200 IU/L with a sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 45%, PPV - 37%, and NPV = 91% had predicted twin pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum B-hCG level on the sixteenth day after embryo transfer can be useful to predict the pregnancy outcome in ICSI cycles.
authors.affiliation: Fatemeh-Zahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 4719173716, Babol, Iran. Zahra_Basirat@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Basirat
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bijani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human