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Serum and follicular fluid Stem Cell Factor assay in IVF poor responder and normal responder patients: a predictive biomarker of oocyte retrieval

  • Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

The aim of the study is to investigate serum stem cell factor (SCF) concentrations as potential biomarker for oocyte retrieval efficiency in IVF patients with poor prognosis.

Methods

A pilot case–control study was performed on 30 poor and 30 normal responders that were stimulated with antagonist protocol. SCF concentrations were evaluated in samples of serum and follicular fluid obtained by all patients on the day of oocyte retrieval. At the time of oocyte retrieval, follicular fluid from at least two follicles ≥ 14 mm and two follicles < 14 mm was collected for SCF determination.

Results

We did not find any statistical difference when comparing serum and follicular fluid levels of SCF in both poor- and normal-responder patients, the same results were achieved when poor-responder patients were stratified according to the number of MII oocytes retrieved. Moreover, levels of SCF (OR 1.000, 0.994–1.006) or in follicular fluid from ovarian follicles ≥ 14 mm (OR 0.995, CI 0.989–1.001) or from ovarian follicles < 14 mm (OR 1.003, CI 0.999–1.0069), were not significantly associated with the chances of ongoing pregnancies in poor-responder patients.

Conclusion

SCF was unable to predict oocyte retrieval efficiency or the chances of reaching embryo transfer.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IVIRMA Madrid, Avenida del Talgo 68-70, 28023, Madrid, Spain

    Mauro Cozzolino, Maria Cruz, Alberto Pacheco & Juan Antonio Garcia-Velasco

  2. Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain

    Mauro Cozzolino & Juan Antonio Garcia-Velasco

  3. Department of Reproductive Medicine, Nova IVI Fertility, Ahmedabad, India

    Azadeh Patel, Jayesh Patel & Juan Antonio Garcia-Velasco

Authors
  1. Mauro Cozzolino
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  2. Maria Cruz
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  3. Azadeh Patel
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  4. Jayesh Patel
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  5. Alberto Pacheco
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  6. Juan Antonio Garcia-Velasco
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Contributions

MC conceptualization: equal, validation: lead, writing—original draft: lead, writing—review and editing: equal; MC data curation: equal, formal analysis: lead; AP data curation: equal, investigation: equal; JP data curation: supporting, investigation: equal; AP data curation: equal; JAG-V conceptualization: lead, validation: equal, writing— review and editing: equal.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mauro Cozzolino.

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Conflict of interest

All authors declare that they have not conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in the studies that involved human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Institutional and National Research Committee, with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all the individual participants enrolled for the study.

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Cozzolino, M., Cruz, M., Patel, A. et al. Serum and follicular fluid Stem Cell Factor assay in IVF poor responder and normal responder patients: a predictive biomarker of oocyte retrieval. Arch Gynecol Obstet 300, 447–454 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-019-05172-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-019-05172-2

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