The Follicular Fluid and Serum Concentrations of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in patients during IVF-ET Cycles

Park, Sung Jae; Ki, Kyung Do; Lee, Hyo Won; Lee, Bo Yon; Lee, Seon Kyung; Huh, Chu Yeop; Kim, Seung Bo

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Several aspects of female reproduction, from folliculogenesis to corpus luteum function, are related to angiogenesis. The purpose of this study is to measure the concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in follicular fluid and serum in patients during In Vitro Fertilization-Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET) cycles.
METHODS
In our prospective study, twenty-nine patients who underwent in vitro fertilization by GnRH agonist short protocol were assessed at the our infertility clinic from Aug. 2003 to July 2005. Serum VEGF and follicular fluid VEGF levels were measured in all patients at the time of oocytes retrieval. The assay technique used in this study was ELISA for serum and follicular fluid VEGF.
RESULTS
Of 29 cycles, 10 cycles were pregnant (34.5%). A positive correlation existed for follicular fluid VEGF and chronologic age (r=0.428, p-value=0.021). Follicular fluid VEGF concentration showed an inverse relationship with the total number of oocytes retrieved and follicles (r=-0.493, p-value=0.007; r=-0.474, p-value=0.009). But there was no statistically significant relationship between follicular fluid VEGF concentration and serum VEGF concentration (rho=0.347). Follicular fluid VEGF concentration was significantly higher in the non-pregnant group (1468.38+/-727.33 pg/mL) compared to the pregnant group (676.48+/-542.07 pg/mL) (p-value=0.003).
CONCLUSION
Our data provide some of the evidences that elevated VEGF concentrations in the follicular fluid are associated with poor conception rates in the IVF-ET cycles.