체외수정 시술을 위해 중앙대학교부속병원 산부인과학 교실 불임크리닉을 방문한 환자중 1993년 3월부터 1994년 8월까지 난관폐쇄로 인하여 불임이 된 환자 113명(119주기)을 대상으로 GnRH-a 병합요법 중 Short protocol 방법으로 과배란시 임신된 45명(47주기)과 임신이 되지 않은 68명(72주기)에서 hCG 투여 당일 혈청내 E2 및 P4 수치를 측정하여 임신의 결과를 비교하였다. 1. 환자의 평균 연령 및 불임기간은 임신군에서 $33.2{pm}14.8$세 및 $4.2{pm}3.4$년이었으며 비 임신군에서는 $34.5{pm}21.7$세 및 $3.9{pm}2.8$년으로 연령 및 불임기간의 차이는 없었다. 2. hGC 투여 당일 측정한 혈중 E2치는 임신군에서는 $1643{pm}987.9$ pg/ml, 비임신군에서는 $1367{pm}875.8$ pg/ml로 임신군에서 유의하게 높았다(P<0.01). 또한 혈중 LH치는 인신군 에서는 $16.7{pm}10.4$ ng/ml, 비임신군에서는 $18.3{pm}8.3$ ng/ml로 임신군에서 유의하게 낮았다 (P<0.01). 혈중 P4치는 임신군에서는 $1.0{pm}0.7$ ng/ml이었고 비임신군에 서는 $2.1{pm}1.4$ ng/ml로서 임신군에서 유의하게 낮았다(P<0.001). 3. hCG 투여당일 E2/P4 비는 임신군에서 $1865.6{pm}318.1$, 비임신군에서는 $1324{pm}377.7$ 로서 유의한 차이가 있었다(P<0.01)(Table 3). 4. 주기당 수정율은 임신군에서 $61.3{pm}21.3%$, 비임신군에서는 $41.1{pm}20.3%$로 임신군에서 의미있게 높았고(P<0.01) 이식된 배아의 수는 임신군 47주기에서 $4.2{pm}2.2$개, 비임신군 72주기에서는 $2.3{pm}1.2$개로 두 군간의 차이는 없었다(Table 4). 이상에서 임신이 된 군은 임신이 안된 군보다 혈중 progesterone 치가 의미있게 낮았고 혈중 estradiol 치는 의미있게 높았음을 알 수 있었다. 혈중 progesterone 및 estradiol치는 과배란 유도 후 체외수정시술에 있어서 수정율 및 임신율에 영향을 줄 수 있다고 생각되며 이는 체외수정시술시 과배란후 임신의 예후판정에 효용성이 있을것으로 사료된다.
Controlled Ovarian hyperstimulation(COH) is generally used to obtain synchronous high quality oocytes in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer(IVF-ET). Many investigators have studied the relationship between serum hormone levels and outcomes of IVF-ET because there is no accurate estimation method of oocyte quality. Early premature luteinization of follicles before oocyte retrieval is the most troublesome problem in COH for IVF-ET. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists(GnRH-a) are used as adjuncts with gonadotropins for COH in patients undergoing in IVF. The possible benefits of GnRH-a pretreatment include improving oocyte quality, allowing a more synchronous cohort of follicles to be recruited, and preventing premature lueinization hormone surges. In COH of IVF cycles, we investigated whether an elevated progesterone(P4) level on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG) administration indicates premature luteinization and is associated with a lower fertilization rate. Many investigators have studied that the lower fertilization rates seen in patients with elevated P4 levels might result from an adverse effect of P4 on the oocytes. We hypothesizes that serum P4 levels around the day of hCG may be helpful prediction of out come in IVF-ET cycles. Success rates after COH of IVF-ET cycles are dependent upon many variable factors. Follicular factors including the number of follicles, follicular diameters and especially serum estradiol(E2) levels as an indirect measurement of follicular function and guality have been thought to influence the outcomes of IVF-ET. To assess whether serum P4 and E2 levels affect the fertilization and pregnancy rate, we reviewed the stimulation cycles of 113 patients (119 cycles) undergoing IVF-ET with short protocol with GnRH-a, from March 1993 to August 1994 retrospectively. The serum P4 and E2 levels were compared on the day of hCG in the pregnant group, 45 patients(47 cycles) and in the non-pregnant group, 68 patients (72 cycles) respectively. The serum E2 level in non-pregnant group was $1367{pm}875.8$ pg/ml which was significantly lower than that of pregnant group, $1643{pm}987.9$ pg/ml( p< 0.01 ). And the serum P4 level in non-pregnant group was $2.1{pm}1.4$ ng/ml which was significantly higher than that of pregnant group, $1.0{pm}0.7$ ng/ml( p< 0.001 ). The fertilization rate was $61.3{pm}21.3%$ in pregnant group which was higher than that of non-pregnant group, $41.1{pm}20.2%$ (p< 0.01). We suggest that the serum levels of P4 and E2 on the day of hCG administration are additional parameters that predict the outcomes of IVF-ET cycles.
