Association of serum and follicular fluid leptin and ghrelin levels with in vitro fertilization success.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle outcomes, serum and follicular fluid (FF) levels of leptin and ghrelin. Material and methods: Forty-four women who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles (ICSI) were enrolled in the study. On the third day (D3) of the menstrual cycle, venous blood samples were drawn for serum measurements of leptin and ghrelin. The follicular fluid (FF) and the corresponding oocyte were obtained from a single dominant preovulatory follicle at the time of oocyte pick-up. The FF and D3 serum leptin and ghrelin concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relationship between pregnancy rate and serum, follicular fluid levels of leptin and ghrelin were analyzed. Results: Of the 44 cases included, nineteen achieved clinical pregnancy (43.18%). Follicular fluid ghrelin levels were significantly lower in the pregnant group than non-pregnant group (p < 0.05) With respect to FF leptin, there was no statistically significant differences between the pregnant and non-pregnant women (p > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in D3 serum ghrelin between pregnant and non-pregnant groups (p > 0.05). However, D3 serum leptin levels were significantly lower in pregnant women than non-pregnant women (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Lower ghrelin levels in the follicular fluid were associated with higher pregnancy rates. Also, D3 serum leptin levels were inversely correlated with clinical pregnancy rates. These findings support the potential role of these molecules on IVF outcomes.

Correlation of endometrial glycodelin expression and pregnancy outcome in cases with polycystic ovary syndrome treated with clomiphene citrate plus metformin: a controlled study.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between clomiphene citrate (CC) plus metformin treatment and endometrial glycodelin expression and to then correlate this relationship with pregnancy outcomes. Material and Methods. A total of 30 patients diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) according to the Rotterdam criteria constituted our study group. All had been admitted to the gynecology outpatient clinic between June 1, 2011, and January 1, 2012, for infertility treatment. Our control group consisted of 20 patients admitted for routine Pap smear control. They had no history of infertility and were not using contraceptives and they were actively attempting pregnancy. Midluteal progesterone measurement and pipelle endometrial biopsies were performed with both groups. For PCOS patients, metformin treatment was initiated right after the biopsy and CC was added in the second menstrual cycle. Pipelle endometrial biopsies were repeated. Histological dating and immunohistochemistry for glycodelin were performed by a single pathologist who was blinded to the patients' clinical data. Result(s). The posttreatment ovulation rate in the study group was 93.3%. No pregnancies were achieved in either group when glycodelin expression was not present, even in the presence of ovulation. When glycodelin expression was high in PCOS group, the pregnancy rate was 60% and all pregnancies ended in live births. In weak expression group, however, three out of four pregnancies ended as early pregnancy losses. Conclusion(s). Endometrial glycodelin expression is an important predictor of pregnancy outcomes in both PCOS and fertile groups.