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Oocytes affected by smooth endoplasmic reticulum aggregates: to discard or not to discard?

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

Abstract

Purpose

Oocytes containing smooth endoplasmic reticulum aggregates (SERa) have been associated with reduced fertilization and clinical pregnancy rates as well as compromised neonatal outcomes. It was therefore recommended by an Alpha-ESHRE Consensus to discard oocytes presenting this dysmorphism. The data in the literature are nevertheless conflicting and healthy babies have recently been obtained from affected oocytes. The objectives of this study were to compare clinical outcomes between ICSI cycles with and without oocytes affected by smooth endoplasmic reticulum aggregates and to confirm whether affected oocytes can produce healthy babies.

Methods

A prospective observational study was performed comparing 714 SERa− ICSI cycles to 112 SERa+ cycles. Among the SERa+ cycles, 518 SERa− oocytes and 213 SERa+ oocytes were analyzed. Fertilization, embryo quality, and pregnancy rates as well as neonatal outcomes were compared between SERa+ and SERa− cycles as well as between SERa+ and SERa− oocytes.

Results

The presence of SERa was not associated with an adverse effect on embryological, clinical or neonatal data for SERa+ cycles and oocytes. Seven healthy babies were born from embryos originating from SERa+ oocytes.

Conclusions

These results are encouraging and might contribute in the future to a revision of the Alpha-ESHRE Consensus. Larger studies, including a correlation between frequency and size of SERa, clinical outcomes and malformation rates, as well as the follow-up of babies born are nevertheless necessary. In the meantime, the currently conflicting data requires caution when considering transfers of embryos affected by SERa.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Michelle Kenfack Asokeng for helping in data preparation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynaecology, CHU St-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, rue Haute 322, 1000, Brussels, Belgium

    Chloë Shaw-Jackson, Anne-Laure Thomas, Nina Van Beirs, Jérôme Colin, Evelyne Bertrand, Bénédicte Becker, Serge Rozenberg & Candice Autin

  2. Data centre, Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, rue Hégèr Bordet 1, 1000, Brussels, Belgium

    Lieveke Ameye

Authors
  1. Chloë Shaw-Jackson
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  2. Anne-Laure Thomas
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  3. Nina Van Beirs
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  4. Lieveke Ameye
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  5. Jérôme Colin
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  6. Evelyne Bertrand
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  7. Bénédicte Becker
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  8. Serge Rozenberg
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  9. Candice Autin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chloë Shaw-Jackson.

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Ethical statement

All our protocols have been approved by the local Ethics Committee (Comité d’éthique de l’institut Jules Bordet) and all our patients have given their informed, written consent prior to treatment.

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Shaw-Jackson, C., Thomas, AL., Van Beirs, N. et al. Oocytes affected by smooth endoplasmic reticulum aggregates: to discard or not to discard?. Arch Gynecol Obstet 294, 175–184 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-016-4066-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-016-4066-1

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