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. 2019 Jul;36(7):1489-1495.
doi: 10.1007/s10815-019-01484-z. Epub 2019 May 18.

Maternal serum levels of angiogenic markers and markers of placentation in pregnancies conceived with fresh and vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer

Milan Reljič  1 , Admir Porović  2
Affiliations

Maternal serum levels of angiogenic markers and markers of placentation in pregnancies conceived with fresh and vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer

Milan Reljič et al. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2019 Jul.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to compare the levels of angiogenic markers and markers of placentation between pregnancies conceived with fresh (ET) and vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer (FET).

Methods: Women with singleton pregnancies resulting from fresh ET or FET during the period between 2013 and 2017 were included in this prospective observational study. Fresh ET was performed in a stimulated and FET in natural cycle. At 6-7 weeks of gestation, after ultrasound confirmation of a single gestational sac with a viable embryo, serum levels of free β-hCG, pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), placental growth factor (PIGF) and fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt-1) were measured. Data on the patients' characteristics, pregnancy complications and outcomes were collected from a questionnaire and National Perinatal Information System of Slovenia.

Results: Among 211 pregnancies, 126 were achieved with fresh ET and 85 with FET. There were no significant differences in perinatal outcome, pregnancy complication and PIGF level between the fresh ET and FET group. Women achieving pregnancy with FET had significant higher levels of free β-hCG (40.20 ± 30.62 IU/L vs. 28.74 ± 23.52, p = 0.002), PAPP-A (0.09 ± 0.06 vs. 0.06 ± 0.05 IU/L, p = 0.004) and sFlt-1 (596.19 ± 283.06 vs. 436.53 ± 248.23 pg/L, p < 0.0001) compared to women having conceived with fresh ET. There were no significant differences in the levels of evaluated biomarkers between patients with different pregnancy outcomes and complications.

Conclusion: Levels of angiogenic markers and markers of placentation differ between pregnancies achieved with fresh ET and FET which may reflect altered implantation and early placentation with some forms of assisted reproductive technologies.

Keywords: Angiogenic markers; Assisted reproductive technologies; Blastocyst transfer; Markers of placentation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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