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The association between homocysteine in the follicular fluid with embryo quality and pregnancy rate in assisted reproductive techniques

  • ASSISTED REPRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the association between follicular fluid homocysteine levels and embryo quality and pregnancy rates in patients undergoing assisted reproduction.

Methods

Fifty infertile women who were admitted to our clinic were enrolled in the study. Ovulation induction was performed by using GnRH agonist and gonadotropins. For each patient, homocysteine level in the follicular fluid was measured by using nephelometric method after the oocyte pick-up. The association between the homocysteine concentration in the follicular fluid and the oocyte–embryo quality, pregnancy rates and hormone levels were investigated.

Results

Mean ± SD Hcy was 9.6 ± 2.02 μmol/L and 14.9 ± 2.93 μmol/L in pregnant and non-pregnant women, respectively (p < 0.0001). There were no statistically significant differences between pregnant and non-pregnant women in mean age, duration of infertility, body mass index, the oocyte–embryo quality parameters, and hormone levels. Homocystein did not have any correlation with M2, late M2, and total number of oocytes, number of fertilized oocytes and transferred embryos, and embryo quality grade. Area under curve (AUC) of hcy for prediction of pregnancy failure was 0.922 (p = 0.0001, 95% Confidence interval 0.85–0.99). A threshold of 11.9 μmol/L of hcy had a sensitivity of 82%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100% and negative predictive value of 91.6% for prediction of pregnancy failure. The subgroup analysis in male factor infertility group (n = 28), showed that mean homocystein was 9.9 ± 2.44 μmol/L and 14.1 ± 2.72 μmol/L in pregnant and non-pregnant women, respectively (p = 0.002).

Conclusion

Low follicular fluid homocysteine level is associated with a better chance of clinical pregnancy.

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Conflict of interest

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Pelin Ocal, Ismail Cepni & Mehmet Idil

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Denizli Camevi Public Hospital, Denizli, Turkey

    Bilge Ersoylu

  3. Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Onur Guralp & Nil Atakul

  4. Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Embryology, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Tulay Irez

  5. Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IVF Unit, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Pelin Ocal

Authors
  1. Pelin Ocal
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  2. Bilge Ersoylu
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  3. Ismail Cepni
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  4. Onur Guralp
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  5. Nil Atakul
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  7. Mehmet Idil
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Correspondence to Pelin Ocal.

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Capsule

Low follicular fluid homocysteine level is associated with a better chance of clinical pregnancy.

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Ocal, P., Ersoylu, B., Cepni, I. et al. The association between homocysteine in the follicular fluid with embryo quality and pregnancy rate in assisted reproductive techniques. J Assist Reprod Genet 29, 299–304 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9709-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9709-y

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