Serum CA-125 and inhibin B levels in the prediction of ovarian response to gonadotropin stimulation in in vitro fertilization cycles.

Abstract

There is much controversy about the relationship between serum CA-125 levels during in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles and ovarian function. To evaluate the prognostic value of serum CA-125 and inhibin B measurements in predicting ovarian response to gonadotropin stimulation, we compared the CA-125 and inhibin B levels of poor and normal responders on the first day of ovarian stimulation, on the day of ovulation induction (OI) and at oocyte pick-up. Sixteen patients with poor ovarian response (3 oocytes, serum estradiol (E2) 900 pg/ml at OI) in IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles were matched with normal responders (6 oocytes, E2 1800 pg/ml) by age, spontaneous cycle day-3 follicle-stimulating hormone level and cause of infertility. Inhibin B concentrations were significantly lower at all three time points in poor responders, but CA-125 levels were not. No statistically significant correlation was found between CA-125 levels and any of the clinical or laboratory parameters examined. Thus, CA-125 measurements during stimulation are not useful in predicting or identifying poor ovarian response to gonadotropin stimulation in IVF cycles. The lack of difference in CA-125 concentrations between poor and normal responders and lack of correlation with E2 or inhibin B levels suggest that ovarian steroidogenesis and other granulosa cell functions do not influence the production of CA-125. Inhibin B, however, seems to predict ovarian response as early as at the start of stimulation.

• Authors: János Urbancsek, Erik E Hauzman, Akos Murber, Ana R Lagarde, Thomas Rabe, Zoltán Papp, Thomas Strowitzki
• Journal: Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology (Gynecol Endocrinol) Vol. 21 Issue 1 Pg. 38-44 (Jul 2005) ISSN: 0951-3590 [Print] England
• PMID: 16048800 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• CA-125 Antigen
• Gonadotropins
• inhibin B
• Estradiol
• Inhibins
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone

Topics

• Animals
• CA-125 Antigen (blood)
• Case-Control Studies
• Estradiol (blood)
• Female
• Fertilization in Vitro
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone (blood)
• Gonadotropins (pharmacology)
• Inhibins (blood)
• Ovary (drug effects, physiology)
• Ovulation Induction
• Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic