title: Reduced Circulating Concentration of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor is Associated with Peri- and Post-implantation Failure following In Vitro Fertilization-Embryo Transfer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated associations between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-4 (NT4) and pregnancy outcome in women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sera obtained on days 24 and 28 of an IVF cycle from women with a live birth, spontaneous abortion, biochemical pregnancy, not pregnant, or an ectopic pregnancy were retrospectively analyzed for BDNF and NT4 by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median BDNF levels were higher in women with a live birth compared to women with an ectopic pregnancy (P < 0.0001), spontaneous abortion (P < 0.0001), or a biochemical pregnancy (P = 0.0004), but not in women who did not become pregnant. NT4 was detected in <25% of sera and did not differ by outcome. There was no association between BDNF level and oocyte or pre-transfer embryo parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased circulating BDNF early in an IVF cycle is associated with adverse peri- and/or post-implantation events and subsequent pregnancy failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.|Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ramer
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kruczek
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doulaveris
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Theofano
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Orfanelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Brittney
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shulman
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Witkin
authors.affiliation: Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Spandorfer
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D050498:Live Birth; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; C579455:BDNF protein, human; C073922:neurotrophin 4
keywords: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; IVF outcome; implantation; neurotrophic factor 4