Clinical trial NCT04168892: Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) Measured With Fully Automated Assay Versus AFC in the Prediction of Ovarian Response
Official title: Prospective, Observational, Multivariate Study to Evaluate the Best Predictor of Ovarian Response, Between AMH Measured With Fully Automated Assay and AFC
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Ovarian Response
Lead sponsor: Andros Day Surgery Clinic
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2019-11-19
Enrollment: 160
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 40
Standard ages: ADULT
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: This trial will involve couples attending their first IVF/ICSI cycle.

Brief summary: The primary objective of this prospective, observational, multivariate study will be to compare the reliability of automated AMH (measured with Access AMH assay, Beckman-Coulter Diagnostics, USA) with that of antral follicle count (AFC) evaluated ultrasonographically always by the same operator and with the same ultrasound scanner, in terms of the number of oocytes recovered from oocyte sampling in couples subjected to in vitro fertilization.

Detailed description: Individual variability in ovarian response to a starting dose of gonadotropins is a well-known aspect during controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) and many efforts have been made for obtaining the personalization of the treatment, identifying different biomarkers that may predict the ovarian response such as age, basal Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), AMH and antral follicle count (AFC). The number of oocytes retrieved is the main expression of ovarian response and it remains a relevant prognostic marker in women undergoing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)/Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) cycles. Consistent evidence shows that an optimal - rather than a maximal - oocyte yield is the preferred achievement after COS when fresh embryo transfer is scheduled. In fact, live birth rates steadily increase when an optimal number of oocytes is collected, whereas low response and hyper-response are associated with lower implantation rates, increased obstetrical risks and, at least when considering hyper response, increased risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in the fresh cycle. Among the different biomarkers, AMH and AFC seem to have the best performance in predicting ovarian response to exogenous FSH.

Nevertheless, until now, there is often discordance between the AMH level and AFC in clinical practice. In cases of discordance, which indicator should be chosen to individualize the starting dose of gonadotropins? Until now, no direct comparison of the new automated immunoassay of AMH with AFC has been carried out considering the number of retrieved oocytes as primary endpoint.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

BMI between 18 and 30 kg/m2, basal serum day 3 FSH ≤ 15 IU/l, normal regular menstrual cycles, ranging from 25 to 33 days in length, normal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and prolactin levels, normal uterine cavity as assessed by hysteroscopy or sonohysterography or three-dimensional ultrasound and presence of both ovaries.

Exclusion Criteria:

irregular menstrual cycles, severe endometriosis, defined as stage III-IV of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) revised classification, previous ovarian surgery, presence of ovarian cysts, polycystic ovary syndrome, use of hormonal contraception in the previous 3 months and use of gonadotrophins in the previous 3 months, any known metabolic or endocrinological disease

Primary outcomes:
measure: Number of oocytes retrieved
timeFrame: 13-15 days starting from the first day of the cycle
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Cumulative clinical pregnancy rate per patient
timeFrame: 28-32 days after the oocyte retrieval
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Palermo
country: Italy
facility: ANDROS Day Surgery Clinic, Reproductive Medicine Unit
Study officials:
References:
citation: Zhang Y, Xu Y, Xue Q, Shang J, Yang X, Shan X, Kuai Y, Wang S, Zeng C. Discordance between antral follicle counts and anti-Mullerian hormone levels in women undergoing in vitro fertilization. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2019 Jul 4;17(1):51. doi: 10.1186/s12958-019-0497-4.
citation: Pearson K, Long M, Prasad J, Wu YY, Bonifacio M. Assessment of the Access AMH assay as an automated, high-performance replacement for the AMH Generation II manual ELISA. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2016 Feb 16;14:8. doi: 10.1186/s12958-016-0143-3.
citation: Allegra A, Marino A, Volpes A, Coffaro F, Scaglione P, Gullo S, La Marca A. A randomized controlled trial investigating the use of a predictive nomogram for the selection of the FSH starting dose in IVF/ICSI cycles. Reprod Biomed Online. 2017 Apr;34(4):429-438. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2017.01.012. Epub 2017 Jan 23.
citation: van Tilborg TC, Oudshoorn SC, Eijkemans MJC, Mochtar MH, van Golde RJT, Hoek A, Kuchenbecker WKH, Fleischer K, de Bruin JP, Groen H, van Wely M, Lambalk CB, Laven JSE, Mol BWJ, Broekmans FJM, Torrance HL; OPTIMIST study group. Individualized FSH dosing based on ovarian reserve testing in women starting IVF/ICSI: a multicentre trial and cost-effectiveness analysis. Hum Reprod. 2017 Dec 1;32(12):2485-2495. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dex321.
citation: Andersen AN, Witjes H, Gordon K, Mannaerts B; Xpect investigators. Predictive factors of ovarian response and clinical outcome after IVF/ICSI following a rFSH/GnRH antagonist protocol with or without oral contraceptive pre-treatment. Hum Reprod. 2011 Dec;26(12):3413-23. doi: 10.1093/humrep/der318. Epub 2011 Sep 27.