Abstract
Purpose: Our purpose was to assess the predictive value for pregnancy outcome of an initial serum quantitative β-hCG measurement obtained 11 or 12 days after embryo transfer in an in vitro fertilization program.
Methods: A prospective, descriptive study of 153 pregnancies achieved via in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer was performed. Initial β-hCG levels and subsequent pregnancy outcomes were compared.
Results: The overall mean initial β-hCG level was 91±85.8 mIU/ml for normal (singleton, multiple-gestation) pregnancies and 29±24.9 mIU/ml for abnormal (miscarriage, ectopic) pregnancies (P<0.01; power, >80%). While 93.9% of patients with initial β-hCG levels ≥42 mIU/ml had normal pregnancies, 56.4% of those with initial levels <42 mIU/ml experienced abnormal outcomes. With 42 mIU/ml as the cutoff level for predicting a normal pregnancy, this screening test yielded a sensitivity of 79.3% and a specificity of 83.8%.
Conclusions: Initial serum β-hCG levels obtained 11 or 12 days after embryo transfer may be predictive of pregnancy outcome in an in vitro fertilization program.
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Qasim, S.M., Callan, C. & Choe, J.K. The predictive value of an initial serum β human chorionic gonadotropin level for pregnancy outcome following in vitro fertilization. J Assist Reprod Genet 13, 705–708 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02066422
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02066422