ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess usefulness of serum inhibin B (INHB) measurement for evaluation of ovarian function. METHODS: Serum INHB level on day 3 of menstrual cycle was determined by enzyme labeled immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 96 cases of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). The patients were classified into 3 groups including (1) poor response (n = 6), normal response (n = 72), and over response (n = 18) according to their response to ovary stimulation. In addition, serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E(2)) levels were also determined by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay in these patients. Evaluation of the INHB measurement and related factors was performed by statistical analysis. RESULTS: Serum INHB levels in poor, normal and over-response groups were (28 +/- 20), (85 +/- 42), (92 +/- 34) pg/ml; FSH levels were (11.9 +/- 5.3), (7.5 +/- 2.6), (7.2 +/- 1.7) U/L; E(2) levels on day 3 of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration were (2558 +/- 2108), (9366 +/- 4472), (18 392 +/- 9655) pmol/L; numbers of retrieved oocytes per cycle were (0.6 +/- 0.4), (8.7 +/- 3.6), (14.3 +/- 2.9); top grade embryos were (0.4 +/- 0.3), (3.8 +/- 1.9), (4.6 +/- 1.7); pregnancy rates were 16.7%, 36.1%, 61.1%, respectively. INHB level was negatively correlated to FSH (r = -0.222, P < 0.05) and FSH/LH (r = -0.371, P < 0.05); while positively correlated to E(2) on the day of hCG administration (r = 0.336, P < 0.05), number of retrieved oocytes (r = 0.404, P < 0.05), number of quality embryos (r = 0.323, P < 0.05) and pregnancy rate (r = 0.246, P < 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: INHB test may reflect the ovarian reserve which is of clinic importance in the guidance of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.
