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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 1992; 99(3): 123-128
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1211152
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© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Early Pregnancy Factor (EPF) as a Marker for the Diagnosis of Subclinical Embryonic Loss

Savitri K. Shahani, Clara Moniz, Shanta Chitlange, Pervin Meherji
  • Institute for Research in Reproduction, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Bombay/India
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Publication History

1991

Publication Date:
16 July 2009 (online)

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Summary

The validation of EPF as a possible correlate of early fertilization has made it possible to study and detect fertilization of the ovum in normal fertile women (during the luteal phase) and also in women with infertility, where the fertilization of the ovum may not be affected but there may be impairment in early embryonic development which results in early embryo loss or subclinical embryo loss. Our results have suggested that using EPF as a marker, we could detect subclinical embryonic loss in 57.8 % of the infertile women where more than one menstrual cycle was studied and the blood was collected 4—7 days after ovulation. After the missed period, 80% of the patients who were negative for EPF but positive for hCG had spontaneous abortions. It would be interesting to study how EPF behaves as a marker, to detect subclinical embryonic loss in diverse pathological situations such as recurrent abortions, parental age and translocation carrier parents.

Key words

Infertility - EPF - Embryonic loss