Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a protein produced by many different tissues. In the ovary. VEGF is produced both by granulosa and theca cells. The granulosa cells increase production of VEGF in response to FSH, LH-hCG, as well as hypoxia. VEGF concentrations of FF at the time of oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization (IVF) are significantly higher in older women.
Objective: To measure concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), inhibin A and inhibin B in follicular fluid (FF) of women undergoing to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, and to determine their relationship with ovarian response and pregnancy.
Patients and methods: This was a prospective randomized comparative study that was carried out at Al-Azhaar University Hospitals from January 2020 till October 2020. The study was conducted at Gynecology outpatient clinic of Al-Hussein Hospital of Al-Azahar University over 58 women were divided into two groups, based on reproductive outcome: Group (A): Women who became pregnant after embryo transfer, and Group (B): Non-pregnant women.
Results: Among the studied cases, according to pregnancy, there were 28(48.3%) pregnant, 30(51.7%) non-pregnant, according to single or multiple. There were 18(64.3%) single and 10(35.7%) twins. Among total cases, the fertilized rate was 299/527 (56.7%). According to quality; there were 243/299 (81.3%) grade 1, 56/299 (18.7%) grade 2, the number of embryos transferred were115/299 (38.5%). Among group A, the fertilized rate was 185/307 (60.3%), according to quality; there were 160/185 (86.5%) grade 1, 25/185 (13.5%) grade 2, and the number of embryos transferred were 64/185 (34.6%). Among group B, the fertilized rate was 114/220 (51.8%), according to quality; there were 83/114 (72.8%) grade 1, 31/114 (27.2%) grade 2, and the number of embryos transferred were 51/114 (44.7%). There was a statistically significant difference between studied cases as regard serum VEFG, FF VEGF, serum inhibin A, FF inhibin A, serum inhibin B and FF inhibin B.
Conclusion: Lower concentrations of serum and FF VEGF, higher concentrations of FF inhibin A and B may serve as a reliable predictive marker for pregnancy, in women undergoing IVF. All of these parameters allowed the recognition of cycles predetermined to fail, and this information may contribute to the criteria for cryopreservation of embryos to be used in future transfers.