This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tong, S. Articles by Wallace, E. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tong, S. Articles by Wallace, E. M.

Increased Day 15–17 Serum Pro-C Inhibin Levels Specific to Successful Pregnancy

Centre for Women’s Health Research (S.T., L.R., B.M., E.M.W.), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Monash Medical Centre, and Monash IVF (L.R., A.M.), Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia; and Springfield Hospital (J.L.O.), Chelmsford CM1 7GU, United Kingdom

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Stephen Tong, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Monash Medical Centre, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia. E-mail: Stephen.Tong{at}med.monash.edu.au.

In early pregnancy, serum levels of the luteal-derived hormone pro-C inhibin peak by the second week after conception. Whether this early rise is biologically important and a consistent feature of only successful pregnancy is unknown. We undertook a prospective cross-sectional study to determine whether serum pro-C inhibin levels at d 15–17 are predictive of a successful clinical in vitro fertilization pregnancy and compared levels between fresh embryo transfer (ET) and frozen-thawed ET. Median (95% confidence interval) pro-C inhibin levels were 68 (57–76) pg/ml in 204 women who did not become clinically pregnant after ET, significantly lower than in either 90 women who became clinically pregnant after fresh ET and who had 3139 (1684–4220) pg/ml or in 39 women with a successful frozen ET who had 877 (678–1111) pg/ml. Pro-C was highly sensitive and specific in predicting clinical pregnancy success but did not improve on the performance of human chorionic gonadotropin. Pro-C inhibin levels were not correlated with progesterone or human chorionic gonadotropin. Levels were no higher in singleton compared with multiple pregnancies and did not increase across gestation, suggestive of a luteal source. The increase in circulating pro-C inhibin in very early pregnancy is highly specific to clinical pregnancy, suggesting a possible biological role in early gestation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Tong, L. Rombauts, J. Onwude, B. Marjono, and E.M. Wallace Highly specific and sensitive rise in Days 14 17 pro-{alpha}C inhibin with clinical pregnancy after frozen embryo transfer with ovulatory cycles Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2007; 22(8): 2249 - 2253. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]