Corifollitropin alfa for poor responders patients, a prospective randomized study

Abstract Background Poor ovarian response remains one of the biggest challenges for reproductive endocrinologists. The introduction of corifollitropin alpha (CFA) offered an alternative option to other gonadotropins for its longer half-life, its more rapid achievement of the threshold and higher FSH...

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Main Authors: F. M. Fusi, L. Zanga, M. Arnoldi, S. Melis, M. Cappato, I. Candeloro, A. Di Pasqua
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-07-01
Series:Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12958-020-00628-6
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author F. M. Fusi
L. Zanga
M. Arnoldi
S. Melis
M. Cappato
I. Candeloro
A. Di Pasqua
author_facet F. M. Fusi
L. Zanga
M. Arnoldi
S. Melis
M. Cappato
I. Candeloro
A. Di Pasqua
author_sort F. M. Fusi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Poor ovarian response remains one of the biggest challenges for reproductive endocrinologists. The introduction of corifollitropin alpha (CFA) offered an alternative option to other gonadotropins for its longer half-life, its more rapid achievement of the threshold and higher FSH levels. We compared two different protocols with CFA, a long agonist and a short antagonist, and a no-CFA protocol. Methods Patients enrolled fulfilled at least two of the followings: AFC < 5, AMH < 1,1 ng/ml, less than three oocytes in a previous cycle, age > 40 years. Ovarian stimulation with an antagonist protocol was performed either with 300 UI rFSH and 150 UI rLH or 300UI HMG. In the long agonist group, after pituitary suppression with triptorelin, CFA was given the 1-2th day of cycle and 300 UI rFSH and 150 UI rLH the 5th day. In the short antagonist group CFA was given the 1-2th day of cycle and 300 UI rFSH and 150 UI rLH the 5th day. The primary objective was the effect on the number of oocytes and MII oocytes. Secondary objective were pregnancy rates, ongoing pregnancies and ongoing pregnancies per intention to treat. Results The use of CFA resulted in a shorter lenght of stimulation and a lower number of suspended treatments. Both the CFA protocols were significantly different from the no-CFA group in the number of retrieved oocytes (p < 0,05), with a non-significant difference in favour of the long agonist protocol. Both CFA groups yielded higher pregnancy rates, especially the long protocol, due to the higher number of oocytes retrieved (p < 0,05), as implantation rates did not differ. The cumulative pregnancy rate was also different, due to the higher number of cryopreserved blastocysts (p < 0,02). Conclusions The long agonist protocol with the addition of rFSH and rLH showed the best results in all the parameters. A short antagonist protocol with CFA was less effective, but not significantly, although provided better results compared to the no-CFA group. We suggest that a long agonist protocol with CFA and recombinant gonadotropins might be a valuable option for poor responders. Trial registration The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee (EudraCT2015–002817-31).
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spelling doaj.art-9099868e3b4c4939a9351478872c27912022-12-21T23:48:48ZengBMCReproductive Biology and Endocrinology1477-78272020-07-011811610.1186/s12958-020-00628-6Corifollitropin alfa for poor responders patients, a prospective randomized studyF. M. Fusi0L. Zanga1M. Arnoldi2S. Melis3M. Cappato4I. Candeloro5A. Di Pasqua6Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIIIDivision of Reproductive Endocrinology, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIIIDivision of Reproductive Endocrinology, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIIIDivision of Reproductive Endocrinology, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIIIDivision of Reproductive Endocrinology, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIIIDivision of Reproductive Endocrinology, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIIIDivision of Reproductive Endocrinology, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIIIAbstract Background Poor ovarian response remains one of the biggest challenges for reproductive endocrinologists. The introduction of corifollitropin alpha (CFA) offered an alternative option to other gonadotropins for its longer half-life, its more rapid achievement of the threshold and higher FSH levels. We compared two different protocols with CFA, a long agonist and a short antagonist, and a no-CFA protocol. Methods Patients enrolled fulfilled at least two of the followings: AFC < 5, AMH < 1,1 ng/ml, less than three oocytes in a previous cycle, age > 40 years. Ovarian stimulation with an antagonist protocol was performed either with 300 UI rFSH and 150 UI rLH or 300UI HMG. In the long agonist group, after pituitary suppression with triptorelin, CFA was given the 1-2th day of cycle and 300 UI rFSH and 150 UI rLH the 5th day. In the short antagonist group CFA was given the 1-2th day of cycle and 300 UI rFSH and 150 UI rLH the 5th day. The primary objective was the effect on the number of oocytes and MII oocytes. Secondary objective were pregnancy rates, ongoing pregnancies and ongoing pregnancies per intention to treat. Results The use of CFA resulted in a shorter lenght of stimulation and a lower number of suspended treatments. Both the CFA protocols were significantly different from the no-CFA group in the number of retrieved oocytes (p < 0,05), with a non-significant difference in favour of the long agonist protocol. Both CFA groups yielded higher pregnancy rates, especially the long protocol, due to the higher number of oocytes retrieved (p < 0,05), as implantation rates did not differ. The cumulative pregnancy rate was also different, due to the higher number of cryopreserved blastocysts (p < 0,02). Conclusions The long agonist protocol with the addition of rFSH and rLH showed the best results in all the parameters. A short antagonist protocol with CFA was less effective, but not significantly, although provided better results compared to the no-CFA group. We suggest that a long agonist protocol with CFA and recombinant gonadotropins might be a valuable option for poor responders. Trial registration The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee (EudraCT2015–002817-31).http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12958-020-00628-6Corifollitropin alfaAgonistAntagonistPoor responders
spellingShingle F. M. Fusi
L. Zanga
M. Arnoldi
S. Melis
M. Cappato
I. Candeloro
A. Di Pasqua
Corifollitropin alfa for poor responders patients, a prospective randomized study
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
Corifollitropin alfa
Agonist
Antagonist
Poor responders
title Corifollitropin alfa for poor responders patients, a prospective randomized study
title_full Corifollitropin alfa for poor responders patients, a prospective randomized study
title_fullStr Corifollitropin alfa for poor responders patients, a prospective randomized study
title_full_unstemmed Corifollitropin alfa for poor responders patients, a prospective randomized study
title_short Corifollitropin alfa for poor responders patients, a prospective randomized study
title_sort corifollitropin alfa for poor responders patients a prospective randomized study
topic Corifollitropin alfa
Agonist
Antagonist
Poor responders
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12958-020-00628-6
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