Mohamed M Shaaban, Waleed S Ahmed, Iman Keshk and Hossam El Bahaie
Objective: The present study is designed to prospectively evaluate relationship between follicular fluid (FF) Leptin and Activin A and IVF outcome measures. Design: Prospective observational study. Population: FF Leptin and Activin A were measured in 90 patients undergoing ICSI cycles excluding polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients. Follicular fluid samples collected at oocyte retrieval from follicles ≥ 18 mm in diameter were analyzed for Leptin and Activin A using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and results were correlated to ICSI outcome. Main outcome measures: FF leptin and activin A levels, fertilization and pregnancy rates. Results: For the whole population (90 patients), mean follicular fluid Leptin level was 45.2 ± 26.7 ng/ml and mean body mass index was 25.3 ± 3.3 kg/m². FF Leptin had a positive correlation with BMI (p<0.005). The mean FF Activin A was 880.8 ± 354.6 pg/ml 29/90 patients (32.2%) achieved pregnancy, twenty five of them (86.2%) had more than 50% grade A embryos on day 2 in contrast to 33 patients (54.1%) in the non-pregnant group (P<0.02), this means that pregnancy was positively correlated to day 2 embryo quality. FF Leptin and Activin A did not correlate to day 2 embryo qualities or pregnancy outcome. FF total Activin A level did not relate to FF Leptin level or number of oocytes collected. Low or high FF Activin A or Leptin levels did not show an effect on fertilization, pregnancy or day 2 embryo qualities. Conclusion: Neither FF Activin A nor FF Leptin levels can be used to predict IVF outcome measures.