Intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection and congenital birth defects: a retrospective cohort study.

Our objective was to study the birth defect rates in intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI) pregnancies. A cohort of couples presenting male factor infertility between January 2006 and January 2014 was retrospectively analyzed. Discharge letters and a telephone interview were performed for assessing pregnancy outcome. All clinical data were reviewed by a board certified medical geneticist. Main outcomes were fetal/birth defect and chromosomal abnormality rates. Two thousand two hundred and fifty-eight pregnancies were available for analysis, of them, 1669 (73.9%) resulting from ICSI and 2258 (26.1%) achieved by IMSI. Pregnancy outcome distribution did not show a significant difference. For the fresh embryo transfer cohort, fetal/birth defect rate was 4.5%, chromosomal aberration rate was 1.0%, and structural malformation rate was 3.5%. IMSI vs. ICSI pregnancies were less likely to involve a fetal/birth defect: 3.5% vs. 4.8%, respectively, but did not reach a statistical significance OR 0.71 (95% CI 0.39-1.22). Split by multiplicity, this trend existed only for singleton pregnancies; 1.4% structural malformations rate vs. 3.8%, respectively, OR 0.35 (95% CI 0.11-0.9). The frozen cohort demonstrated a significantly lower birth defect rate (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.09-0.58). We conclude that IMSI procedure does not involve an increased malformation rate and may offer a reduced anomaly incidence. Further studies are required.

What is the best treatment for women with polycystic ovarian syndrome and high LH/FSH ratio? A comparison among in vitro fertilization with GnRH agonist, GnRH antagonist and in vitro maturation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether high LH/FSH ratio has a clinical impact on patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) with GnRH-agonist/antagonist protocols or in vitro maturation (IVM) treatments. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all PCOS patients with day 3 LH/FSH ratio ≥1.5 who underwent IVF or IVM. The main outcomes measures were embryo quality and pregnancy rate. RESULTS: A total of 75 cycles were included. Among these, 44 patients underwent long agonist protocol, 16 antagonist protocol and 15 IVM. Age, basal LH and FSH levels, as well as duration of infertility were comparable for all groups. The LH level on the day of hCG administration was significantly lower in the antagonist group (0.9 IU/ml) compared to the long agonist group (1.4 IU/ml, p = 0.01). There was no difference in pregnancy rates among the groups: 27.2 % in the long agonist group, 37.5 % in the antagonist group and 26.6 % among the IVM patients. CONCLUSIONS: High LH/FSH ratio had no adverse effect on pregnancy rates in all three treatment modes.

Gestational diabetes insipidus and intrauterine fetal death of monochorionic twins.

Gestational diabetes insipidus (GDI) is a rare disorder. The onset is usually in the third trimester of pregnancy. We present a 24-year-old primigravida in her 35th week of a monochorionic-diamniotic twin pregnancy. The patient presented with intrauterine death of both twins accompanied by HELLP syndrome, hypernatremia and hemoconcentration. Urine osmolality below that of the plasma suggested GDI. 1-deamino-8D-arginine vasopressin (dDAVP) treatment was started with a quick response. GDI is probably the result of excessive activity of placental vasopressinase. In cases of liver dysfunction, the clearance rate of vasopressinase decreases, explaining the association of GDI with acute fatty liver and HELLP syndrome. Alert to this diagnosis, its evaluation and treatment is important.