Clinical Efficacy of Serum Insulin-like Growth Factor- I (IGF-I), IGF-II, and IGF Binding Protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in Predicting the Prognosis of In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer / 대한산부인과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), IGF-II, and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels in predicting the prognosis of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 84 patients undergoing IVF-ET, serum levels of IGF-I , IGF-II, and IGFBP-3 were measured using immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) before the gonadotropin administration and on the hCG day of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). Serum levels of IGFs and IGFBP-3, and the outcomes of IVF-ET were retrospectively analyzed and compared between the pregnant (n=18) and nonpregnant (n=66) groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the outcomes of COH such as total dosage of gonadotropins used, duration of COH, serum estradiol (E2) level on the hCG day, numbers of oocytes retrieved and fertilized, and number of embryos transferred between the pregnant and nonpregnant groups. No differences were found in serum levels of IGF- I , IGF-II, and IGFBP-3, and their ratios before the gonadotropin administration and on the hCG day of COH. Basal serum level of IGF-II was lower with the borderline significance in the pregnant group (796.9+/-159.6 vs. 908.9+/-338.9 ng/ml, p=0.056). The ratio of change in IGF-I to that of IGF-II was significantly higher in the pregnant group (0.066+/-0.489 vs. -0.582+/-2.091, p=0.045). CONCLUSION: Even though basal serum level of IGF-II was lower and the ratio of changes in IGF-I to IGF-II was higher in the pregnant group, serum levels of IGF-I , IGF-II, and IGFBP-3 do not seem to predict the prognosis of IVF-ET. Further investigations are necessary in a larger group of patients to elucidate the clinical efficacy of serum IGFs and IGFBPs levels in predicting the prognosis of IVF-ET.