클로미펜에 얇은 자궁내막을 보이는 환자에서 성선자극호르몬 병합 과배란유도시 클로미펜과 레트로졸의 임상적 효용성 = Clinical Efficacy of Clomiphene Citrate and Letrozole Combined with Gonadotropins for Superovulation in Patients with Clomiphene-Induced Thin Endometrium

국문 초록 (Abstract)

목 적: 클로미펜을 사용한 배란유도시 얇은 자궁내막을 보였던 환자들에서 성선자극호르몬에 클로미펜 또는 레트로졸을 병합 투여하는 과배란유도 방법의 임상적 효용성을 비교 분석하고자 하였다. 연구방법: 이전의 클로미펜을 사용한 배란유도 주기에서 8 mm 미만의 얇은 자궁내막을 보였던 불임 환자들에서 시행된 성선자극호르몬 병합 과배란유도/인공수정 51주기가 연구에 포함되었다. 월경주기 제3일째부터 5일 동안 클로미펜+성선자극호르몬 군은 일일 클로미펜 100 mg을 투여하였고 (n=26) 레트로졸+성선자극호르몬 군은 일일 레트로졸 2.5 mg 또는 5 mg을 투여하였다 (n=25). 양 군에서 월경주기 제5~7일째부터 우성난포의 크기가 18 mm 이상에 도달할 때까지 이틀에 한 번씩 성선자극호르몬은 75~150 IU를 투여하였다. 양 군에서 성선자극호르몬 총 사용량, 자궁내막의 두께, 자궁내막의 형태, hCG 투여일의 14 mm 이상 난포의 수, hCG 투여일, 임신율, 다태 임신율을 비교하였으며 통계 분석은 Mann-Whitney U test or Fisher's exact test 등을 이용하였다. 결 과: 연령, 불임기간, 이전 인공수정 횟수, 기저 혈중 LH, FSH, $E_2$ 농도, 불임의 원인 등의 임상적 특성은 양 군간 차이가 없었다. 성선자극호르몬 병합 과배란유도시 배란전 자궁내막의 두께는 이전의 클로미펜을 사용한 주기와 비교하여 유의하게 증가되었다. 성선자극호르몬 총 사용량, hCG 투여일, 자궁내막의 삼중선 비율, 임신율 및 다태 임신율은 유의한 차이가 없었다. 클로미펜+성선자극호르몬 군에 비하여 레트로졸+성선자극호르몬 군에서 14 mm 이상 난포의 개수는 유의하게 적었고 ($3.7{\pm}1.7$ vs. $2.8{\pm}1.7$, p=0.03). 배란 전 자궁내막 두께는 유의하게 두꺼웠다 ($7.7{\pm}1.5\;mm$ vs. $9.1{\pm}1.7\;mm$, p<0.05). 결 론: 배란유도를 위하여 클로미펜 사용시 얇은 자궁내막을 보였던 환자들에서 인공수정을 위한 과배란유도시클로미펜 또는 레트로졸을 성선자극호르몬과 병합하여 사용하는 방법은 클로미펜의 자궁내막에 대한 부정적인 효과를 피할 수 있는 것으로 사료된다. 적절한 자궁내막의 발달 및 적절한 난포의 성장 측면에서 성선자극호르몬에 레트로졸을 병합하는 과배란유도 방법이 클로미펜을 병합하는 방법에 비하여 더 유용할 수 있으나 추가적인 대규모 전향적 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy of clomiphene citrate (CC) and letrozole combined with gonadotropins for controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in patients with CC-induced thin endometrium Methods: Fifty-one intrauterine insemination cycles performed in patients who previously had a thin endometrium (<8 mm) to ovulation induction using CC were included in this study. A CC 100 mg/day (CC+gonadotropin group, n=26) or letrozole 2.5 or 5 mg/day (letrozole+gonadotropin group, n=25) was administered on day 3~7 of the menstrual cycle, combined with gonadotropins at dose 75~150 IU every other day starting on day 5~7. We compared total dose of gonadotropin used, endometrial thickness, endometrial pattern, number of follicles ${\geq}14\;mm$ on hCG day, pregnancy rate and multiple pregnancy rate between the two groups, which were statistically analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test or Fisher's exact test, where appropriate. Results: There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics such as age, duration of infertility, number of previous IUI cycles, basal serum hormone levels and cause of infertility between the two groups. In both groups, the endometrium was significantly thicker than that of previous ovulation induction cycles using CC. No significant differences were found in the total dose of gonadotropin used, day of hCG administration, the rate of triple endometrium and pregnancy rate. The number of follicles ${\geq}14\;mm$ was significantly lower ($3.7{\pm}1.7$ vs. $2.8{\pm}1.7$, p=0.03) and the endometrium on hCG day was significantly thicker ($7.7{\pm}1.5$ vs. $9.1{\pm}1.7$, p=0.001) in letrozole+gonadotropin group compared to CC+gonadotropin group. Conclusion: The clomiphene citrate and letrozole combined with gonadotropins appear to avoid the undesirable effects on the endometrium frequently seen with CC for ovulation induction. However, in terms of adequate endometrial development or optimal follicular growth, letrozole may be more beneficial than CC for gonadotropin-combined COS in patients with CC-induced thin endometrium. Further prospective randomized controlled studies in a larger scale will be necessary to confirm our findings.

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