Homocysteine level in ovarian follicular fluid or serum as a predictor of successful fertilization
Jerzak, M.łg.; Putowski, L.ła.; Baranowski, W.ło.
Ginekologia Polska 74(9): 949-952
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0017-0011 PMID: 14674150 Document Number: 560089
There are some data concerning homocysteine influence on fertilization and early embryogenesis, especially in women experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss (RSA). However, limited data support hypothesis that the ovum might be exposed to high homocysteine concentration what may be important in egg-sperm interactions, for example during in vitro-fertilization (IVF) cycle. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine fasting total homocysteine concentration in follicular fluid or serum of women experiencing reproductive failure after spontaneous or in-vitro fertilization. Eight nonpregnant RSA women, 8 normal healthy women with previous successful pregnancy outcome and 15 women undergoing IVF (6 with unexplained infertility-UI, 6 with male factor-MF, 3 with tubal obstruction-TO). Total fasting homocysteine level concentrations were established by ELISA method (Axis Homocysteine EIA, Axis-Shield AS) in serum of RSA and normal healthy women or ovarian follicular fluid of women undergoing IVF. Mean fasting total homocysteine concentration in study group were as follows: RSA-18.63 mumol/L +/- 6.67, Normal-13.98 mumol/L +/- 6.62, UI-20.62 mumol/L +/- 8.19, MF-22.60 mumol/L +/- 7.87, TO-36.75 mumol/L +/- 13.26. We found that RSA women have had significantly higher serum homocysteine concentration when compared to normal healthy women (P < 0.05). Among women undergoing IVF, those with following IVF success had not significantly lower homocysteine level when compared to those with IVF failure (22.81 mumol/L +/- 11.27 vs. 24.54 mumol/L +/- 9.50, P > 0.05). Our preliminary data suggest that high homocysteine level may negatively influence pregnancy outcome following natural or in-vitro fertilization. It cannot be excluded that elevated homocysteine concentrations contribute to defective chorionic villous vascularization during early stages of gestation.