The following is a summary of the “High concentration of first-measured HCG after embryo transfer is associated with subsequent development of pre-eclampsia,” published in the January 2023 issue of Reproductive Biomedicine Online by Aulitzky et al.

A total of 3,448 women between the ages of 18 and 45 who underwent IVF between 2014 and 2019 were included in this retrospective cohort study, and of those, 614 women who had an intrauterine pregnancy following single embryo transfer (SET) were assessed; 423% of these pregnancies resulted in live births. Ultimately, we analyzed 280 cases with complete pregnancy and delivery outcomes information. The scene was an in vitro fertilization clinic at a university. 

The levels of HCG were measured at a predetermined time after embryo transfer, and the values were found to be correlated with poor placentation and, thus, negative pregnancy outcomes. When controlling for age, BMI, parity, and embryo transfer type, women whose first measured HCG was in the highest quintile still had a higher risk of developing pre-eclampsia than those whose first measured HCG was lower (odds ratio [OR] 4.08, 95% CI [95% CI] 1.41-11.82). The results remained stable after further accounting for the embryo stage at the transfer time (OR 3.97, 95% CI 1.37-11.46). 

The prevalence of fetal growth restriction was not different. High levels of HCG at the first measurement after SET have never been reported to be associated with a negative pregnancy outcome. If confirmed in subsequent research, this population of patients would benefit from further evaluation of the use of preventative interventions beginning at a very early stage of pregnancy.

Source: sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1472648322007593