Cytokine profile in cases with premature elevation of progesterone serum concentrations during ovarian stimulation

N. Nikolettos*, B. Asimakopoulos, F. Köster, B. Schöpper, Ch Schulz, G. S. Caglar, A. Efthimiadou, O. Pagonopoulou, K. Diedrich, S. Al-Hasani

*Corresponding author for this work
6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), leptin, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, in cycles with a premature rise of serum progesterone. 25 intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles with (Group 1) and 25 ICSI cycles without a premature progesterone elevation (Group 2) were included. The cut-off value of serum progesterone on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration was 0.9 ng/ml. The indication for ICSI was male factor infertility exclusively. On the day of hCG injection, serum IL-6, VEGF and bFGF were significantly higher in Group 1 (7.7±24.5 pg/ml, 290.2±161.4 pg/ml and 15.7±8.2 ng/ml respectively) than in Group 2 (1.7±0.7 pg/ml, 175.2±92.1 pg/ml, and 9±1.6 ng/ml respectively). On the day of follicular puncture, serum cytokine concentrations were similar in the two groups. IL-6 intrafollicular concentrations were higher in Group 1 (14.7±20.7 pg/ml) than in Group 2 (9±9.3 pg/ml, p=0.031). There were no differences regarding the ICSI outcome. Patients with serum progesterone above 0.9 ng/ml, have elevated serum concentrations of IL-6, VEGF, and bFGF, as well as elevated intrafollicular concentrations of IL-6. The outcome of ICSI cycles is not associated with premature elevation of progesterone when the cut-off value is set at 0.9 ng/ml.

Original languageEnglish
JournalPhysiological Research
Volume57
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)215-224
Number of pages10
ISSN0862-8408
Publication statusPublished - 01.07.2008

Research Areas and Centers

  • Centers: Center for Pre-Implantation Diagnostics (PID)

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