title: Recombinant luteinizing hormone priming in early follicular phase for women undergoing in vitro fertilization: systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of recombinant human luteinizing hormone supplementation (rLH priming) during the early follicular phase on in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to evaluate available evidence regarding the efficacy of rLH priming in IVF/ICSI procedures, a systematic review and meta-analysis was preformed. Searches were conducted on MEDLINE®, EMBASE and the Cochrane Database of Clinical Trials without language limitation, but were restricted to randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three RCTs including 346 patients were included in this meta-analysis, which demonstrated that rLH priming did not increase ongoing pregnancy rate. Although less recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) was required and the oestradiol level was higher on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration in the rLH priming group, the numbers of oocytes retrieved and embryos produced were comparable between patients treated with rLH priming and those treated with rFSH alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This systematic review and meta-analysis has demonstrated that at present there is insufficient evidence that patients undergoing IVF/ICSI may benefit from rLH priming during the early follicular phase.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medical Centre, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
authors.forename: Linli
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Zhiqin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bu
authors.forename: Keyan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yingpu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone
keywords: Recombinant luteinizing hormone priming; in vitro fertilization; meta-analysis