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Serum cetrorelix concentrations do not affect clinical pregnancy outcome in assisted reproduction.

Bukulmez O, Carr BR, Doody KM, Doody KJ

Center for Assisted Reproduction, Bedford, Texas, USA. Obukul@parknet.pmh.org

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the potential association between serum cetrorelix levels and clinical pregnancy outcome in patients who had undergone assisted reproduction cycles with a GnRH antagonist cetrorelix acetate 3-mg injection. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. SETTING: University-affiliated private-assisted reproduction center. PATIENT(S): 130 IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection first cycles, treated with the same cetrorelix acetate protocol, in two matched groups according to whether the cycle resulted in clinical pregnancy (n = 56) or not (n = 74). INTERVENTION(S): Cetrorelix acetate administration at 3 mg in a sandwich protocol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Serum cetrorelix concentrations on the day of hCG administration with regard to clinical pregnancy outcome, pre- versus post-hCG percent change in serum E(2) levels and implantation rates. RESULT(S): The cetrorelix serum concentrations were in the range of 0.29 to 5.12 ng/mL. The comparisons between groups with and without clinical pregnancy revealed comparable serum cetrorelix levels. There was no significant correlation between the serum cetrorelix concentrations and percent change in pre- versus post-hCG serum E(2) levels. Serum cetrorelix levels were comparable among patients with various implantation rates. CONCLUSION(S): Although a wide range of serum cetrorelix levels could be detected during a GnRH antagonist cycle, these levels were comparable in patients with and without clinical pregnancies.

Published 14 January 2008 in Fertil Steril, 89(1): 74-83.
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