title: Exogenous hCG activity, but not endogenous LH activity, is positively associated with live birth rates in anovulatory infertility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate, retrospectively, the roles of endogenous and exogenous luteinising hormone (LH) activity on live birth rate in ovulation induction cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Associations between LH activity at baseline, end of stimulation and live birth rate were analysed in relation to patient characteristics, baseline and end of stimulation variables in WHO group II anovulatory women (n = 155) stimulated with recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) or highly purified human menopausal gonadotrophin (HP-hMG). HP-hMG provides FSH and exogenous LH activity mainly in the form of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum LH concentrations at baseline or end of stimulation were not predictive of live birth rate in the rFSH group (n = 79) or HP-hMG group (n = 76). Serum hCG concentration at end of stimulation was a significant positive predictor in HP-hMG-treated women. Other variables were not independently predictive of live birth in either of the groups, except for a negative association between serum FSH concentrations at the start of stimulation and live birth in the rFSH-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endogenous LH concentrations are not predictive of live birth in anovulatory WHO group II patients undergoing ovulation induction with rFSH or HP-hMG. On the other hand, exogenous hCG activity during HP-hMG stimulation is positively associated with treatment outcome.
authors: Reproductive Health, Global Clinical & Non-Clinical R&D, Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark. jca@ferring.com
authors: Joan-Carles
authors: JC
authors: Arce
authors: Johan
authors: J
authors: Smitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000858:Anovulation / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001723:Birth Rate; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050498:Live Birth; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008596:Menotropins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012102:Reproductive Control Agents / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012102:Reproductive Control Agents; D008596:Menotropins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone