The levels of C-reactive protein in women treated by IVF

Abstract

In women treated by IVF the concentrations of CRP in blood increase significantly during the first week following oocyte retrieval. Successful outcome is associated with a relative small increment in CRP on the day of embryo transfer.

Low grade inflammation, as evidenced by basal high sensitivity CRP, is not correlated to outcome measures in IVF

“…The available studies present considerable differences in design, subjects and methods, reaching contradictory results [17][18][19][20]. Gonadotrophin hyperstimulation, oocyte retrieval and blastocyst-endometrium interaction (i.e., early stages of implantation) are thought to induce a temporary inflammatory state as evidenced by a rise in CRP levels and inflammatory cytokines.…”

“…These and other authors [19] speculated that the inflammatory process results from stimulation treatment and may be responsible for the molecular mechanisms leading to the various degrees of the syndrome. Almagor and colleagues [18] took serial measurements of CRP during the IVF cycle and found that the levels increased 1 week after oocyte retrieval. Pregnant women after IVF treatment were shown to have higher CRP levels than non-pregnant women at 4 weeks of gestation, suggesting that the maternal inflammatory response starts from the early stages of embryo implantation [23].…”

“…As yet, a handful of studies have investigated CRP levels during assisted conception, making it difficult to know the expected normal levels in different subgroups of patients [17][18][19][20]. Levin and colleagues [17] reported that higher CRP levels during IVF stimulation were associated with failure of conception.…”

Low-dose acetylsalicylic acid plus prednisolone as an adjuvant treatment in IVF: a prospective, randomized study

“…Because severe OHSS may have some features in common with the inflammatory response (leukocytosis, circulating C-reactive protein, and interleukin increase, etc.) (23,24), an anti-inflammatory treatment may be useful for preventing the onset of OHSS or to decrease its severity. If further, more targeted trials confirm the effectiveness of ASAþPred in this context, adjuvant treatment with ASAþPred could be used to reduce the incidence of severe OHSS in high-risk patients without negatively affecting IVF outcome.…”

A Study of Serum and Follicular Fluid C. Reactive Protein and Antisperm Antibody as Predictive Markers for Human Oocyte and Embryo Quality and Icsi Outcome.

“…In women undergoing IVF the concentrations of CRP in blood increase significantly during the first week following oocyte retrieval. Successful outcome is associated with a relative small increment in CRP 16 in addition to its effect on the quality and maturity degree of oocyte. Therefore FF content of CRP is believed to be related to fertilization, embryo development and implantation rate 17 .…”