High continuing pregnancy rates after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer using medium supplemented with a plasma protein fraction containing alpha- and beta-globulins

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate both the laboratory and clinical outcomes after IVF-ET using culture media supplemented with a plasma protein fraction (PPF, Plasmatein; Alpha Therapeutics, Los Angeles, CA) containing albumin and significant amounts of alpha- and beta-globulins. DESIGN: One-year clinical trial of a PPF with high globulin content as a medium supplement during IVF, embryo growth, and ET. SETTING: Fertility Center of San Antonio, a private, office-based center for assisted reproduction. PATIENTS: Ninety-eight couples, with women ranging in age from 26 to 46 years, undergoing 103 ovum retrievals for IVF-ET as treatment for infertility because of tubal factor, endometriosis, anovulation, uterine or cervical factor, male factor, and unexplained causes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fertilization rate, zygote cleavage rate, clinical pregnancy rate (PR), continuing PRs, and implantation rates. RESULTS: Supplementation with PPF in insemination, growth and transfer medium resulted in a clinical PR of 41.5% per transfer with continuing PRs of 35.2% per retrieval, 37.2% per patient, and 38.7% per transfer. CONCLUSIONS: A PPF containing significant amounts of alpha- and beta-globulins can serve as an effective protein supplement to IVF medium, with outcomes manifested as high continuing PRs. These data indicate a potential role for glycoprotein components of serum in supporting healthy embryo growth in vitro, although the mechanism may relate more to the general physicochemical properties of this fraction than to the actions of a specific component.