Prognostic significance of HCG measurement in IVF program

Abstract

Objective. HCG measurement as pregnancy test as a highly precision method allows to detect the earliest pregnancy (7—9 days). The correlation between HCG concentration at the first measurement (12-14 day after embryo transfer) and the pregnancy outcome were investigated retrospectively.

Full Text

Methods. Maternal serum HCG level of the patients on the 12—14 days after embryos transfer were measured by standard immunoassay method (DIAPlus). Serum samples were from Center of human reproduction (St. Petersburg).

Results. Pregnancy outcomes of222patients after IVF were analyzed. First group consisted of 142 patients who gave birth to the alive child. Medians of HCG level in this group changed from 110 u/l at 12 day up to the 255 u/l at 14 day and had an average value 211 u/l. At the second group there were 57 patients with early abortion and 23 with pregnancies terminated within 12 weeks of gestation. No increase in average HCG level on 12 to 14 day after embryos transfer revealed in these patients. Average value was 90 u/l.

Conclusions. HCG measurement on 12-14 days after embryos transfer has a good prediction significance for pregnancy outcome. HCG level decreased less than 80 u/l indicates with highly probability at early abortion or termination of pregnancy. This situation has to be corrected by additional treatment for increasing pregnancy outcomes after IVF.