Maternal serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels in early ectopic and intrauterine pregnancies after in vitro fertilization treatment

• Published in: Fertility and sterility Vol. 82; no. 2; pp. 309 - 313
• Main Authors: Fasouliotis, Sozos J, Spandorfer, Steven D, Witkin, Steven S, Liu, Hung-Ching, Roberts, Jeffrey E, Rosenwaks, Zev
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.08.2004; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Abortion, Spontaneous - blood; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human - blood; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Ectopic pregnancy; Embryo Transfer; Female; Fertilization in Vitro - adverse effects; Fertilization in Vitro - methods; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; intrauterine pregnancy; IVF; Medical sciences; Oocytes - cytology; Pregnancy - blood; Pregnancy Trimester, First; Pregnancy, Ectopic - blood; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Progesterone - blood; Retrospective Studies; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - blood; VEGF; IVF; Ectopic pregnancy; VEGF; intrauterine pregnancy; Human; Pregnancy disorders; Fertilization; Assisted procreation; In vitro; Embryo transfer; Vascular endothelium growth factor; Treatment; Female; Early pregnancy
• ISSN: 0015-0282; 1556-5653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2003.12.043

To determine whether serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) 11 days after a day-3 embryo transfer were predictive of outcome, in women with normal intrauterine pregnancy (IUP), first-trimester miscarriage (SAB), biochemical (BC), and ectopic pregnancy (EP) after IVF therapy. Retrospective analysis. University hospital IVF unit. One hundred eight women who underwent IVF therapy and who were subsequently diagnosed with EP, BC, SAB, or a normal IUP (27 in each category). Serum samples were obtained at 11 days after a day-3 embryo transfer. Serum concentrations of VEGF, P, and β-hCG. Serum concentrations of VEGF were similar in women with BC and EP and higher than in women with normal IUP and SAB (571.8 ± 61.8, 604.4 ± 73.4 vs. 448.9 ± 39.9, 461.8 ± 39.2 pg/mL, respectively). Also, serum β-hCG and P levels were significantly higher in women with a normal IUP and SAB. Using a cutoff concentration of >700 pg/mL for VEGF, an EP could be distinguished from an IUP (normal and SAB), with a positive predictive value of 64% and a negative predictive value of 71%. Elevated maternal serum levels of VEGF, as early as 11 days after embryo transfer, are associated with ectopic pregnancies after IVF.