Among patients treated with FSH and GnRH analogues for in vitro fertilization, is the addition of recombinant LH associated with the probability of live birth? A systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess whether the addition of recombinant luteinizing hormone (LH) increases live birth rate, among patients treated with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) answering the research question that contained sufficient information to allow ascertainment of whether randomization was true and whether equality was present between the groups compared, regarding baseline demographic characteristics, gonadotrophin stimulation protocol, number of embryos transferred and luteal phase support administered. A literature search identified seven RCTs (701 patients) that provided the information of interest, among which five reported agonist and two antagonist cycles. The reported outcome measure, clinical pregnancy, was converted to live birth using published data in one study. No significant difference in the probability of live birth was present with or without rLH addition to FSH (odds ratio [OR]: 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.65-1.31; P = 0.65). This finding remained stable in subgroup analyses that ordered the studies by dose of rLH added, the type of analogue used to inhibit premature LH surge, the time rLH was added during the follicular phase, the age of patients analysed, the presence of allocation concealment and by the way the information on live birth was retrieved. In conclusion, the available evidence does not support the hypothesis that the addition of recombinant LH increases the live birth rate in patients treated with FSH and GnRH analogues for IVF.