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Gazzo I, Bovis F, Colia D, Sozzi F, Costa M, Anserini P, Massarotti C. Algorithm vs. clinical experience: controlled ovarian stimulations with follitropin-delta and individualised doses of follitropin-alpha/beta. REPRODUCTION AND FERTILITY 2024; 5:RAF-23-0045. [PMID: 38330591 PMCID: PMC10959055 DOI: 10.1530/raf-23-0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
In the registrational trials, follitropin delta was compared with a fixed dose of 150 UI of follitropin alpha/beta, finding higher chances to reach a target response of 8-14 oocytes compared to controls. For this reason, follitropin delta is marketed as particularly useful in expected hyper-responder patients. The main outcome of this study is to report if comparable results are reached in a real-life scenario with follitropin alpha/beta personalized doses, based on patients' characteristics. This is a retrospective study performed in two public fertility centres. All first cycles from January 2020 to June 2022 with either follitropin delta (cases) or alpha/beta (controls) in patients with antiMüllerian hormone >2.5 ng/ml were compared by an inverse probability weighting approach based on propensity score. The follitropin total dose was higher in controls (1179.06 ± 344.93 vs. 1668.67 ± 555.22 IU, p<0.001). The target response of 8-14 oocytes was reached by 40.2% of cases and 40.7% of controls (odds ratio (OR) 0.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65-1.53, p=0.98). Fewer than 8 oocytes were collected in 24.1% of cases and 22% of controls (OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.71-1.69, p=0.67); more than 14 oocytes in 35.7% of cases and 37.3% of controls (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.54-1.28, p=0.40). Our experience did not find worse results in term of proportion of patients who reached the target response with an algorithm-chosen dose of follitropin delta compared to a personalised starting dose of follitropin alpha/beta, with follitropin delta having the advantage of objectivity. Larger numbers are needed to confirm these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Gazzo
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI Department), University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Francesca Bovis
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | - Denise Colia
- Reproductive Medicine Unit, Ospedale Evangelico Internazionale, Genova, Italy
| | - Fausta Sozzi
- Physiopathology of Human Reproduction Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Mauro Costa
- Reproductive Medicine Unit, Ospedale Evangelico Internazionale, Genova, Italy
| | - Paola Anserini
- Physiopathology of Human Reproduction Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Claudia Massarotti
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI Department), University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
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Wu S, Li Y, Wu G, Wu H. Nomogram to predict FSH starting dose in poor ovarian response women in progestin primed ovarian stimulation protocol. BMC Womens Health 2023; 23:202. [PMID: 37118751 PMCID: PMC10148485 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-023-02327-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Prediction of individual ovarian response to exogenous gonadotropin is a cornerstone for success and safety in all controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) protocols. Providing the best FSH starting dose according to each woman's own characteristics is the key to the success of individualized treatment. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the potential application of a novel nomogram based on antral follicle counting (AFC), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and body mass index (BMI) as a tool to optimize the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) starting dose in women with poor ovarian response in in-vitro fertilization (IVF)/intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles in progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS). We performed a retrospective analysis involving 130 poor ovarian responders undergoing IVF/ICSI cycles in a PPOS protocol from June 2017 to February 2019 in our reproductive center. The individual FSH starting dose was selected according to patients' clinical history and characteristics. The influence of variables including age, BMI, AMH and AFC on the FSH starting dose was assessed through multiple regression analysis. We used the variables reaching the statistical significance for calculation for the final predictive model. In the univariate analysis, BMI, AMH and AFC were significant (P < 0.05) predictors of FSH starting dose, age was canceled. In the multivariate analysis, BMI, AMH and AFC remained significant (P < 0.05). According to the nomogram, 118 patients (90.77% of 130) would have received a higher FSH starting dose and 12 patients (9.23% of 130) a lower FSH starting dose than practice dose. The application of the nomogram based on three variables easily determined in clinical practice: BMI, AMH and AFC would lead to a more tailored FSH starting dose in women with poor ovarian response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuxie Wu
- Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Yanping Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Gao Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200081, China
| | - Hanbin Wu
- Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 150 Jimo Road, Shanghai, 200120, China.
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Different CO 2 settings (6.0% vs 7.0%) do have an impact on extracellular pH of culture medium (pHe) and euploidy rates rather than on blastocyst development: a sibling oocyte study. J Assist Reprod Genet 2021; 38:2915-2923. [PMID: 34435303 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-021-02303-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether euploidy rates and blastocyst development differ in a continuous culture medium under different CO2 concentrations. DESIGN AND METHOD A single-center retrospective study was performed from July 2018 to October 2019 including 44 fresh cycles with at least four fresh mature oocytes (MII) without severe male factor infertility. Sibling MII were injected and cultured in Global®Total®LP under 6.0% (pHe = 7.374 ± 0.014) or 7.0% (pHe = 7.300 ± 0.013) CO2, 5.0% O2, and 89.0% or 88.0% N2. Analyzed variables were normally fertilized oocytes (2PN), cleavage rate, blastulation rate on day 5/2PN, usable blastocyst (blastocysts biopsied/2PN), and euploidy rates. Blastocyst's trophectoderm biopsy was performed on day 5, 6, or 7 for genetic testing and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) quantification by next-generation sequencing. RESULTS Women's mean age was 33.0 ± 6.6 years old. From a total of 604 MII, no differences were found in normal fertilization and cleavage rates on day 3 between 6.0 and 7.0% CO2 (72.3% vs 67.1%, p = 0.169 and 96.6% vs 96.3%, p = 0.897, respectively). Blastulation rate on day 5/2PN was comparable between 6.0 and 7.0% CO2 (68.1% vs 64.2%, p = 0.409). Although usable blastocyst rate was not different (54.3% vs 55.3%, p = 0.922), total euploidy rates differed significantly (58.7% vs 42.8%, p = 0.016) between 6.0% and 7.0% CO2, respectively. The mean blastocyst mtDNA content was significantly lower in 6.0% CO2 (30.4 ± 9.1 vs 32.9 ± 10.3, p = 0.037). CONCLUSION Blastocyst development is not affected when embryos are cultured in vitro at 6.0% or 7.0% CO2, while euploidy rates are significantly decreased at a higher CO2 concentration, therefore at a lower pHe.
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Fatemi H, Bilger W, Denis D, Griesinger G, La Marca A, Longobardi S, Mahony M, Yin X, D'Hooghe T. Dose adjustment of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) during ovarian stimulation as part of medically-assisted reproduction in clinical studies: a systematic review covering 10 years (2007-2017). Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2021; 19:68. [PMID: 33975610 PMCID: PMC8112039 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-021-00744-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individualization of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) starting dose is considered standard clinical practice during controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. Furthermore, the gonadotropin dose is regularly adjusted during COS to avoid hyper- or hypo-ovarian response, but limited data are currently available to characterize such adjustments. This review describes the frequency and direction (increase/decrease) of recombinant-human FSH (r-hFSH) dose adjustment reported in clinical trials. METHODS We evaluated the proportion of patients undergoing ART treatment who received ≥ 1 r-hFSH dose adjustments. The inclusion criteria included studies (published Sept 2007 to Sept 2017) in women receiving ART treatment that allowed dose adjustment within the study protocol and that reported ≥ 1 dose adjustments of r-hFSH; studies not allowing/reporting dose adjustment were excluded. Data on study design, dose adjustment and patient characteristics were extracted. Point-incidence estimates were calculated per study and overall based on pooled number of cycles with dose adjustment across studies. The Clopper-Pearson method was used to calculate 95% confidence intervals (CI) for incidence where adjustment occurred in < 10% of patients; otherwise, a normal approximation method was used. RESULTS Initially, 1409 publications were identified, of which 318 were excluded during initial screening and 1073 were excluded after full text review for not meeting the inclusion criteria. Eighteen studies (6630 cycles) reported dose adjustment: 5/18 studies (1359 cycles) reported data for an unspecified dose adjustment (direction not defined), in 10/18 studies (3952 cycles) dose increases were reported, and in 11/18 studies (5123 cycles) dose decreases were reported. The studies were performed in women with poor, normal and high response, with one study reporting in oocyte donors and one in obese women. The median day that dose adjustment was permitted was Day 6 after the start of treatment. The point estimates for incidence (95% CI) for unspecified dose adjustment, dose increases, and dose decreases were 45.3% (42.7, 48.0), 19.2% (18.0, 20.5), and 9.5% (8.7, 10.3), respectively. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review highlights that, in studies in which dose adjustment was allowed and reported, the estimated incidence of r-hFSH dose adjustments during ovarian stimulation was up to 45%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Human Fatemi
- ART Fertility Clinics, Abu Dhabi & Dubai and Muscat Royal Marina Village, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Wilma Bilger
- Medical Affairs Fertility, Endocrinology & General Medicine, Merck Serono GmbH (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Deborah Denis
- Global Clinical Development, EMD Serono Research and Development Institute, Inc (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Billerica, MA, USA
| | - Georg Griesinger
- Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Antonio La Marca
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche Materno-Infantili e dell'Adulto, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and Clinica Eugin Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Salvatore Longobardi
- Global Clinical Development, Merck Serono S.p.A (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), 00176, Rome, Italy
| | - Mary Mahony
- Medical Affairs - Endocrinology/Reproductive Health, EMD Serono, Inc (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Rockland, MA, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Yin
- Research & Development, EMD Serono, Inc (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Billerica, MA, USA
| | - Thomas D'Hooghe
- Global Medical Affairs Fertility, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
- Department of Development & Regeneration, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Obstetrics Gynecology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Euploidy rates are not affected when embryos are cultured in a continuous (CCM) or sequential culture medium (SCM): a sibling oocyte study. J Assist Reprod Genet 2021; 38:2199-2207. [PMID: 33834327 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-021-02187-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine if euploidy rates and embryo development differ when blastocysts are cultured in CCM or SCM. METHOD A single-center retrospective observational study was performed from September 2018 to March 2019. Patients [23-46 years] with at least four fresh mature oocytes (MII) without severe male factor infertility were included. Sibling MII were injected and cultured in Global®Total®LP (CCM) or Sage Quinn's Advantage® Cleavage and Blastocyst media (SCM) under 6% CO2, 5% O2, and 89% N2. Fertilization, cleavage, day (D) 5 blastulation, usable blastocyst (blastocysts biopsied/normally fertilized oocytes), and euploidy rates were recorded. Blastocysts were graded prior to trophectoderm (TE) biopsy on D5, 6, or 7 for genetic testing and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) quantification. RESULTS According to clinical practice, 1452 MII were randomly distributed: 751 in CCM and 701 in SCM. No differences were observed in fertilization and cleavages rates for CCM and SCM (77.4% vs 75.5%, p = 0.429 and 97.6% vs 99.1%, p = 0.094, respectively). Blastulation rate on D5 was higher in CCM (70.6% vs 62.2, p = 0.009); however, usable blastocyst rates were comparable (CCM: 58.3% vs SCM: 56.7%, p = 0.625). From a Poisson regression model adjusted for confounding factors, euploidy rates were not different between media (aOR = 1.18, [0.94-1.48], p = 0.157). Euploid blastocyst's mtDNA values were similar (CCM: 32.2, [30.5, 34.1] and SCM: 33.5, [31.8, 35.2], p = 0.345) and top-quality blastocysts (AA/BA) were increased in SCM (OR=1.04, [1.00-1.09], p = 0.037). CONCLUSION Under controlled in vitro conditions, euploidy rates and embryo development are comparable when embryos are cultured in CCM or SCM.
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Mahony MC, Hayward B, Mottla GL, Richter KS, Beall S, Ball GD, D’Hooghe T. Recombinant Human Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Alfa Dose Adjustment in US Clinical Practice: An Observational, Retrospective Analysis of a Real-World Electronic Medical Records Database. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:742089. [PMID: 34956077 PMCID: PMC8696034 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.742089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine the pattern of dose adjustment of recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone alfa (r-hFSH-alfa) during ovarian stimulation (OS) for assisted reproductive technology (ART) in a real-world setting. METHODS This was an observational, retrospective analysis of data from an electronic de-identified medical records database including 39 clinics in the USA. Women undergoing OS for ART (initiated 2009-2016) with r-hFSH-alfa (Gonal-f® or Gonal-f RFF Redi-ject®) were included. Assessed outcomes were patients' baseline characteristics and dosing characteristics/cycle. RESULTS Of 33,962 ART cycles, 13,823 (40.7%) underwent dose adjustments: 23.4% with ≥1 dose increase, 25.4% with ≥1 dose decrease, and 8.1% with ≥1 increase and ≥1 decrease. Patients who received dose adjustments were younger (mean [SD] age 34.8 [4.58] years versus 35.9 [4.60] years, p<0.0001) and had lower BMI (25.1 [5.45] kg/m2 versus 25.5 [5.45] kg/m2, p<0.0001) than those who received a constant dose. The proportion of patients with non-normal ovarian reserve was 38.4% for those receiving dose adjustment versus 51.9% for those with a constant dose. The mean (SD) number of dose changes/cycle was 1.61 (0.92) for cycles with any dose adjustment, 1.72 (1.03) for cycles with ≥1 dose increase, 2.77 (1.00) for cycles with ≥1 dose increase and ≥1 decrease (n=2,755), and 1.88 (1.03) for cycles with ≥1 dose decrease. CONCLUSIONS Dose adjustment during OS is common in clinical practice in the USA and occurred more often in younger versus older patients, those with a high versus non-normal ovarian reserve or those with ovulation disorders/polycystic ovary syndrome versus other primary diagnoses of infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary C. Mahony
- North America Medical Affairs, EMD Serono, Inc. (an affiliate of Merck KGaA), Rockland, MA, United States
| | - Brooke Hayward
- North America Medical Affairs, EMD Serono, Inc. (an affiliate of Merck KGaA), Rockland, MA, United States
| | - Gilbert L. Mottla
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Shady Grove Fertility Reproductive Science Center, Rockville, MD, United States
| | | | - Stephanie Beall
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Shady Grove Fertility Reproductive Science Center, Rockville, MD, United States
| | - G. David Ball
- Seattle Reproductive Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Thomas D’Hooghe
- Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
- Reproductive Medicine, Department of Development and Regeneration, Organ Systems, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
- *Correspondence: Thomas D’Hooghe,
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Fischer S, Ehrig R, Schäfer S, Tronci E, Mancini T, Egli M, Ille F, Krüger THC, Leeners B, Röblitz S. Mathematical Modeling and Simulation Provides Evidence for New Strategies of Ovarian Stimulation. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:613048. [PMID: 33790856 PMCID: PMC8006380 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.613048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
New approaches to ovarian stimulation protocols, such as luteal start, random start or double stimulation, allow for flexibility in ovarian stimulation at different phases of the menstrual cycle. It has been proposed that the success of these methods is based on the continuous growth of multiple cohorts ("waves") of follicles throughout the menstrual cycle which leads to the availability of ovarian follicles for ovarian controlled stimulation at several time points. Though several preliminary studies have been published, their scientific evidence has not been considered as being strong enough to integrate these results into routine clinical practice. This work aims at adding further scientific evidence about the efficiency of variable-start protocols and underpinning the theory of follicular waves by using mathematical modeling and numerical simulations. For this purpose, we have modified and coupled two previously published models, one describing the time course of hormones and one describing competitive follicular growth in a normal menstrual cycle. The coupled model is used to test ovarian stimulation protocols in silico. Simulation results show the occurrence of follicles in a wave-like manner during a normal menstrual cycle and qualitatively predict the outcome of ovarian stimulation initiated at different time points of the menstrual cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Fischer
- Computational Biology Unit, Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Rainald Ehrig
- Computational Systems Biology Group, Zuse Institute Berlin (ZIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Schäfer
- Department of Microstructure and Residual Stress Analysis, Helmholtz Centre Berlin for Materials and Energy, Berlin, Germany
| | - Enrico Tronci
- Department of Computer Science, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
| | - Toni Mancini
- Department of Computer Science, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcel Egli
- Centre of Competence in Aerospace Biomedical Science & Technology, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Fabian Ille
- Centre of Competence in Aerospace Biomedical Science & Technology, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Tillmann H. C. Krüger
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Brigitte Leeners
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Susanna Röblitz
- Computational Biology Unit, Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- *Correspondence: Susanna Röblitz,
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