title: Glycodelin in endometrial flushing fluid and endometrial biopsies from infertile and fertile women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate in the natural cycle just before IVF, whether glycodelin levels in endometrial flushing fluid obtained days LH+1 and LH+7 can be used in predicting pregnancy in the following IVF cycle, and whether there are differences in women with tubal factor infertility compared to women with unexplained infertility and fertile controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational multicentre study of 21 fertile and 75 infertile women (25 showed abnormal tubes with no signs of hydrosalpinges, 18 had uni- or bi-lateral hydrosalpinges, 17 were salpingectomised because of hydrosalpinges, and 15 women had unexplained infertility). Endometrial flushing at days LH+1 and LH+7, endometrial biopsy, and blood sampling at day LH+7 were performed before down-regulation for IVF. Glycodelin levels in endometrial flushing fluids (EFF), biopsies, and plasma samples were related to tubal pathology, endometrial dating and IVF outcome. Furthermore, total protein concentration was measured in EFF to investigate the influence of normal endometrial maturation on protein concentrations from days LH+1 and LH+7.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At day LH+1, EFF glycodelin levels were higher in infertile women with abnormal tubes compared to fertile women, particularly in women conceiving after the following IVF. For women with unexplained infertility, a higher level at day LH+1 was present only in women not conceiving after the following IVF. ROC curve analysis showed that at day LH+1 EFF glycodelin levels had no predictive value for IVF outcome. At day LH+7, glycodelin levels in endometrial flushing fluids and biopsies depended on endometrial dating.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At day LH+1, glycodelin concentration is increased in endometrial flushing fluid from infertile women with abnormal tubes compared to fertile controls without being a valuable predictor of subsequent pregnancy. At day LH+7 the glycodelin level depends on endometrial dating.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bentin-Ley
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindhard
authors.forename: Vibeke
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ravn
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Islin
authors.forename: Steen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sørensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005184:Fallopian Tube Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins; C045246:PAEP protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol