title: Corifollitropin alfa compared to daily FSH in controlled ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization: a meta-analysis.
abstract: The present study offers a meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles using corifollitropin alfa for controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in comparison with daily recombinant FSH (rFSH). The study examined seven RCTs including 2138 patients receiving corifollitropin alfa and 1788 women receiving daily rFSH for COS. As a novel aspect, this meta-analysis included two specific subpopulations of IVF patients, i.e. egg donors and poor responders. There were no significant differences between corifollitropin alfa and rFSH with respect to the majority of the clinical parameters considered, and comparable were the outcomes in terms of live birth rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, and clinical pregnancy rate. Women receiving corifollitropin alfa had a significantly higher number of metaphase II oocytes at ovum pick-up, and number of formed embryos, in comparison to rFSH. The risk of cycle cancellation due to overstimulation was significantly higher in the corifollitropin alfa group. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) incidence was statistically comparable between patients receiving long lasting or daily rFSH. Nevertheless, in view of the fact that corifollitropin alfa resulted in a higher number of metaphase II oocytes collected and a higher number of cycles cancelled due to overstimulation, corifollitropin alfa should be cautiously considered in women with the potential of being hyper responders.
authors.affiliation: Unità di Statistica, Dipartimento di Scienze Filosofiche, Pedagogiche ed Economico-Quantitative, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Pescara, Italy. stefania.fensore@unich.it.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fensore
authors.affiliation: Unità di Statistica, Dipartimento di Scienze Filosofiche, Pedagogiche ed Economico-Quantitative, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Pescara, Italy. mdimarzio@unich.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Marzio
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina e Scienze dell'Invecchiamento, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy. tiboni@unich.it.
authors.forename: Gian Mario
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Tiboni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D016471:Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate
chemical_list: D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human; C437186:follicle stimulating hormone, human, with HCG C-terminal peptide; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone