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Comparative Study
. 2014 Aug;31(8):1037-43.
doi: 10.1007/s10815-014-0259-3. Epub 2014 Jun 1.

Effect of vitrification versus slow freezing of human day 3 embryos on β-hCG levels

Yamei Xue  1 , Xiaomei Tong, Lingying Jiang, Haiyan Zhu, Lingyun Yang, Songying Zhang
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Effect of vitrification versus slow freezing of human day 3 embryos on β-hCG levels

Yamei Xue et al. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2014 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: The study was designed to investigate the effect of vitrification and slow freezing for the cryopreservation of human day 3 embryos on serum β-hCG levels in pregnancies established after frozen embryo transfer (FET).

Methods: Of the 1384 FET cycles initiated, 1131 embryo transfers met study criteria and assigned to one of two groups: 797 slow-freezing embryo transfers or 334 vitrified embryo transfers. Median values of β-hCG and outcome of all pregnancies were compared between the two groups. Predictive values of serum β-hCG on day 12 after embryo transfer for establishing ongoing pregnancy and pregnancy failure were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results: In the slow-freezing group, 383 ongoing pregnancies occurred (48.1 %), and transfers of vitrified embryos resulted in 154 pregnancies (46.1 %). Median β-hCG values (279.2 IU/L) for ongoing pregnancies after transfer of vitrified embryos were significantly lower than that of slow frozen embryos (320.5 IU/L). The median values of β-hCG for singleton in the two groups was statistically significant (P <0.05). For slow-freezing embryo transfers, the cut-off value of β-hCG in predicting ongoing pregnancy was 147 IU/L (sensitivity 88.3 %, specificity 80.7 %). For vitrified embryo transfers, the value was 135 IU/L (sensitivity 84.4 %, specificity 76.3 %).

Conclusions: Day 12 β-hCG levels after FET are significantly affected by the methods of embryo cryopreservation for ongoing pregnancies. Furthermore, when using β-hCG cut-off value to assess pregnancy outcome, the cryopreservation methods should be taken into account.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
ROC curves of serum β-hCG levels on day 12 post-embryo transfer to predict ongoing pregnancies. Dashed line = values of slow-freezing group. Solid line = values of vitrification group. The value of 147 IU/L for the slow-freezing group is indicated by an open circle. The value of 135 IU/L for vitrification group is indicated by a filled circle. These two circles represent the optimal sensitivity and specificity for the assay
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