Critical appraisal:Druckenmiller S, Goldman KN, Labella PA, Fino ME, Bazzocchi A, Noyes N 2016

Critical Appraisal

Article being appraised

Druckenmiller S, Goldman KN, Labella PA, Fino ME, Bazzocchi A, Noyes N. Successful Oocyte Cryopreservation in Reproductive-Aged Cancer Survivors. Obstet Gynecol 2016 Mar;127(3):474-80 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26855092.

Applicable clinical question

In female cancer patients does the use of oocyte cryopreservation result in pregnancy and live birth?

Key Facts

Study Design

case series

Study aims:

assess cryosurvival, fertilization and pregnancy rates after oocyte cryo in cancer patients

Number of Patients:

176

all cancer pts

Reported outcome(s):

pregnancy rate

Results of outcome(s):

From 2005 to 2014, 176 reproductive-aged patients with cancer (median age 31 years, interquartile range 24-36) completed 182 oocyte cryopreservation cycles. Median time between consult request and oocyte retrieval was 12 days (interquartile range 10-14). Median peak stimulation estradiol was 1,446 pg/mL (interquartile range 730-2,687); 15 (interquartile range 9-23) oocytes were retrieved and 10 (interquartile range 5-18) metaphase II oocytes were cryopreserved per cycle. Ten patients (11 cycles) have returned to attempt pregnancy with their cryopreserved oocytes. Among thawed oocytes, the cryopreservation survival rate was 86% (confidence interval [CI] 78-94%). Nine of 11 thaw cycles resulted in embryos suitable for transfer. The embryo implantation rate was 27% (CI 8-46%) and the live birth rate was 44% (CI 12-77%) per embryo transfer. Chance for live birth with embryos created from cryopreserved oocytes was similar between the patients with cancer in this study and noncancer patients who underwent the same treatment at our center (44% [CI 12-77%] compared with 33% [CI 22-44%] per embryo transfer).

Comments on results:

good study

Includes an economic evaluation

no