The effects of luteinising hormone gene polymorphism on the outcomes of in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer

Abstract

Trp8Arg polymorphism of the LH beta gene has decreased bioactivity in vivo and previous studies showed conflicting data on the effect of LH beta gene polymorphism on the IVF outcome. In this study, 591 IVF patients were recruited. Patients with the variant allele(s) were the carrier group. In GnRH antagonist cycles, the clinical pregnancy rate was significantly lower in the carrier group (18.9%) than in the noncarrier group (37.1%). In long GnRH agonist cycles, the clinical pregnancy rate was comparable between both groups. To clarify the effect of COH protocols, IVF outcomes in the GnRH antagonist and long GnRH agonist protocol groups in carriers were analysed. Among carriers, the clinical pregnancy rate was significantly lower in the GnRH antagonist protocol group (18.9%) than in the long GnRH agonist protocol group (45.2%). Single nucleotide polymorphism analysis may contribute to the individualisation of COH protocols for each patient in the future.

Impact Statement

• What is already known on this subject? Trp8Arg polymorphism of the LH beta gene is known to have decreased bioactivity in vivo. Previous studies have demonstrated hypo-sensitivity in the patients with the variant LH beta protein, while other study showed similar carrier frequency between the poor and the normal response group.

• What the results of this study add? The variant LH beta gene was associated with a lower clinical pregnancy rate in GnRH antagonist cycles but not in long GnRH agonist cycles.

• What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Single nucleotide polymorphism analysis may contribute to the individualisation of COH protocols for each patient in the future.

Keywords:

• Luteinising hormone
• single nucleotide polymorphism
• in vitro fertilisation

Disclosure statement

The authors have nothing to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This study is supported by a grant from the Seoul National University Hospital Research Fund [04-2015-0410].