Abstract
ObjectiveTo investigate factors that influence maternal hCG concentration in early pregnancy and the relationship between hCG concentration in early pregnancy and basal FSH (bFSH) level.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingReproductive medical center.Patient(s)In total, 482 women aged 22 to 38 years with elevated basal FSH (> 10 IU/L) and who experienced a single live birth after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer were selected. These 482 women were age-matched with an equal number of women with normal basal FSH (≤10 IU/L) who also experienced a single live birth.Intervention(s)None.Main Outcome Measure(s)HCG concentration.Result(s)The hCG concentrations on Day 14 and Day 21 were 560.46 (363.63–842.52) IU/L and 9862.00 (6512.25–14029.50) IU/L, respectively, in the elevated bFSH group, and these values were significantly increased compared with the normal bFSH group. After adjusting for confounding factors, the concentrations of maternal hCG on Day 14 and Day 21 were significantly associated with basal FSH. In addition, crude linear regression analysis demonstrated that hCG concentrations increased as the basal serum levels of FSH increased.Conclusion(s)Elevated basal FSH has implications for the interpretation of hCG concentrations in early pregnancy after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) that led to a single live birth.
Highlights
Human chorionic gonadotrophin, a hormone produced by placental trophoblast cells, can reflect trophoblastic mass and is the earliest marker available to evaluate pregnancy progression [1]
We studied the relationship between basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) concentrations on Day 14 and Day 21 after embryo transfer, which to a certain extent could reflect the relationship between ovarian reserve and hCG concentrations in early pregnancy
In the present study of 964 age-matched patients who experienced a single live birth, maternal hCG concentrations were increased in the increased basal FSH (bFSH) group compared with the normal bFSH group on Days 14 and 21 after fresh embryo transfers
Summary
Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), a hormone produced by placental trophoblast cells, can reflect trophoblastic mass and is the earliest marker available to evaluate pregnancy progression [1]. HCG levels dynamically increase and can be detected as early as 6–8 days in maternal serum [2]. In addition to serving as an indicator to evaluate pregnancy progression, hCG in early pregnancy exhibits several other physiological functions for embryo development. Several studies have revealed the association between low early maternal hCG level and risk of compromised pregnancy outcome. Morse et al reported that an increase in hCG very early in the first trimester was associated with reduced newborn birth weight [5]. All these findings indicate that hCG is a crucial indicator of pregnancy outcome
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