Substituting human chorionic gonadotropin by gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist to trigger final follicular maturation, during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, results in less systemic inflammation

Background. To investigate the degree of systemic inflammation, as reflected by serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, associated with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist for the induction of final follicular maturation. Design. Prospective, observational study. Setting. An in vitro fertilization (IVF) unit of an academic medical center. Patients. Twenty-four women undergoing COH and IVF with the flexible GnRH antagonist protocol were prospectively assigned to receive hCG or GnRH agonist for the induction of final follicular maturation. Methods. Blood was drawn three times during COH for measurement of sex-steroid and CRP levels: the day on which adequate suppression was obtained (Day-0); the day of or prior to administration of hCG (Day-hCG); and (3) the day of ovum pick-up (Day-OPU). Levels were compared among the three time points in the two groups. Results. No between-group differences were observed in terms of patient age, gonadotropin dosage, duration of stimulation or number of oocytes retrieved. Serum CRP levels were significantly higher on Day-OPU than on Day-hCG and Day-0, but the difference was significant only in the hCG group (p < 0.03 for both). The percentage change in CRP levels after hCG administration (Day-OPU vs. Day-hCG) (96%) was higher than that after GnRH administration (23%). Conclusion. Administration of GnRH agonist in patients undergoing COH for IVF yields a lesser degree of systemic inflammation, as reflected by CRP levels, than hCG.