Serum P-selectin level during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation--a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: To measure levels of serum P-selectin in patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) cycles and to determine their possible correlation to COH variables.

SETTING: Large university-based infertility and in vitro fertilization unit.

PATIENTS: Fourteen consecutive patients undergoing our routine COH protocol for unexplained infertility.

INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood was drawn three times during the COH cycle: (1) day 2 or 3 of the menstrual cycle, before gonadotropin treatment (Day-0); (2) day of or prior to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration (Day-hCG); and (3) day of ovulation (Day-OVU). Serum levels of sex steroids and P-selectin were compared among the three time points. P-selectin was measured with a commercial quantitative sandwich immunoassay technique. To reduce interpatient variability, the percent difference between the Day-0 (non-stimulated, basal) level and the Day-hCG and Day-OVU levels was calculated.

RESULTS: P-selectin level on Day-hCG was significantly higher than on Day-0 (P < 0.05) and non-significantly higher than on Day-OVU (P < 0.12). No significant correlations were observed between serum P-selectin and patient age, amount of gonadotropins used, or estradiol or progesterone level.

CONCLUSION: The increase in serum P-selectin level during COH until peak estradiol suggests that COH may potentiate a state of platelet activation which is substantially attenuated after hCG administration.