@article {Basirat1015, author = {Zahra Basirat and Ali Bijani}, title = {Serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin levels at 16 days following embryo transfer in intra cytoplasmic sperm injection cycles to predict pregnancy outcome}, volume = {31}, number = {9}, pages = {1015--1020}, year = {2010}, publisher = {Saudi Medical Journal}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To determine the prognostic value of beta human chorionic gonadotropin (B-hCG) concentration on the sixteenth day after embryo transfer to predict pregnancy outcome.METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, B-hCG levels were measured in 97 pregnant women that underwent intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in Fatemeh-Zahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran from January 2008 to December 2009. Type, duration, causes of infertility, and age of patients, B-hCG levels on the sixteenth day after embryo transfer, the number of embryos, and pregnancy outcome were assessed.RESULTS: Incidence of viable pregnancies in B-hCG levels less than 100 IU/L (n=18) was 38.9\%, and in B-hCG levels more than or equal to 100 IU/L (n=79) was 84.4\%. Correlation of B-hCG with pregnancy outcome was significant (p less than 0.001). Cut-off value of B-hCG to predict viable pregnancy was 100 IU/L (sensitivity - 91\%, specificity - 48\%, PPV - 85\%, and NPV - 61\%). The B-hCG levels less than or equal to 200 IU/L with a sensitivity of 88\%, specificity of 45\%, PPV - 37\%, and NPV = 91\% had predicted twin pregnancy.CONCLUSION: Serum B-hCG level on the sixteenth day after embryo transfer can be useful to predict the pregnancy outcome in ICSI cycles.}, issn = {0379-5284}, URL = {https://smj.org.sa/content/31/9/1015}, eprint = {https://smj.org.sa/content/31/9/1015.full.pdf}, journal = {Saudi Medical Journal} }