Levels of angiogenic markers in second-trimester maternal serum from in vitro fertilization pregnancies with oocyte donation

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether differences exist in angiogenic placental growth factor (PlGF) and antiangiogenic soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (sVEGFR-1; both being early markers of placental ischemic disease) in oocyte-donation (OD) pregnancies, compared with autologous in vitro fertilization (aIVF) and spontaneous pregnancies.

Design: Case-control study of residual second-trimester serum samples from women undergoing prenatal screening.

Setting: Academic medical center.

Patient(s): Fifty-seven OD pregnancies were identified. Each OD pregnancy was matched to two spontaneous pregnancies (n = 114) and one aIVF pregnancy (n = 57).

Interventions(s): None.

Main outcome measure(s): Second-trimester serum PlGF and sVEGFR-1 levels.

Result(s): sVEGFR-1, PlGF, and unconjugated E₂ levels were similar among the three study groups. The ratio of sVEGFR-1 to PlGF was significantly higher in the OD group. Consistently with previous studies, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the OD group was significantly elevated compared with spontaneous pregnancy. Both aIVF and OD groups had greater levels of inhibin A than the spontaneous pregnancy group, and the OD group had significantly higher levels of inhibin A than the aIVF group. hCG levels were significantly elevated in aIVF compared with spontaneous pregnancy; however, levels were not different between aIVF and OD.

Conclusion(s): Second-trimester serum sVEGFR-1 and PlGF levels were not significantly altered in OD pregnancies. Our data support previous findings that OD pregnancies have uniquely increased second-trimester AFP, hCG, and inhibin A levels compared with aIVF. However, the biologic basis of these marker elevations in OD may not be related to placental angiogenesis.

Keywords: PlGF; donor oocyte; sFLT-1; sVEGFR-1; serum screening.