title: Serum biomarkers for predicting pregnancy outcome in women undergoing IVF: human chorionic gonadotropin, progesterone, and inhibin A level at 11 days post-ET.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to assess the prognostic value of serum hCG, progesterone, and inhibin A levels measured at 11 days post-ET for predicting pregnancy outcome in women participating in IVF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between May 2005 and April 2008, sera were obtained from 70 infertile women who underwent IVF-ET at 11 days post-ET and stored. HCG, progesterone, and inhibin A levels were measured by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The predictive accuracy of hCG, progesterone, and inhibin A levels for establishment of intrauterine pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy was calculated by receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the prediction of intrauterine and ongoing pregnancy, serum hCG was better than progesterone and inhibin A. The predictive performance of progesterone and inhibin A was similar. The serum progesterone and inhibin A levels were significantly correlated each other (r=0.915, p=0.010).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single measurement of the serum hCG level is sufficient to predict pregnancy outcome in IVF-ET patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Jee Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mi Sun
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Gwang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Byung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Jee
authors.forename: Jung Ryeol
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang Suk
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Seok Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim