Predictive value of urine human chorionic gonadotropin after assisted reproductive technology

Optimizing hCG cut-off values: a single determination on day 14 or 15 is sufficient for a reliable prediction of pregnancy outcome

OBJECTIVE

Optimizing the cut-off level for a single serum hCG determination around day 15 after oocyte retrieval or ovulation.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective data analysis.

RESULTS

204 hCG samples >5 IU/L between March and October 1999 taken on day 14, 15 or 16 after oocyte retrieval in 204 patients undergoing IVF or ICSI were analyzed. ROC-curves and optimal cut-off levels to discriminate between viable and non-viable pregnancies were calculated for each day separately. Cut-off levels were found at 76, 142 and 223 IU/L for day 14, 15 and 16, respectively, and were verified by 487 hCG samples >5 IU/L taken between January 2000 and June 2004.

CONCLUSIONS

A single serum hCG determination on day 14 or 15 is sufficient to discriminate viable pregnancies accurately from non-viable pregnancies.

Doubling time of urine human chorionic gonadotropin after assisted reproductive technology

In the present study, we measured urinary hCG after assisted reproductive technology to accurately calculate normal doubling time (DT) of hCG, and we compared DT values with prognosis of pregnancy. We clarified the correlation between normal DT values, calculated from urinary hCG levels, and viable and nonviable pregnancies.

Human chorionic gonadotropin in cervical fluid as a predictor of miscarriage

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the concentration of hCG in cervical fluid can predict miscarriage during early pregnancy.

DESIGN

Prospective clinical study.

SETTING

University hospital.

PATIENT(S)

Ninety-nine women with singleton pregnancies, 17 of whom suffered a miscarriage.

INTERVENTION(S)

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Miscarriage and the cervical fluid/serum hCG concentration ratio.

RESULT(S)

With a cutoff value of 1.0, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the cervical fluid/serum hCG concentration ratio for predicting miscarriage were 88.2%, 94.9%, 83.3%, and 96.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSION(S)

The cervical fluid/serum hCG concentration ratio might be a useful predictor of miscarriage during early pregnancy.