Serum levels of stem cell factor for predicting embryo quality.

We evaluated whether serum stem cell factor (s-SCF) levels just prior to ovulation induction could indicate the ability to develop a top-quality (TQ) blastocyst by day 5. We investigated patients with normal ovarian reserve (NOR), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), or mild endometriosis. Our pilot research suggests a correlation between s-SCF levels and the ability to form TQ blastocysts in patients with mild endometriosis. This significant statistical difference (p < 0.05) was noted between mild endometriosis patients for whom a TQ blastocyst was obtained and those for whom it was not possible, as measured on the 8th day of stimulation and the day of oocyte retrieval. The mean SCF levels in the serum of these women on the 8th day were at 28.07 (± 2.67) pg/ml for the TQ subgroup and 53.32 (± 16.02) pg/ml for the non-TQ subgroup (p < 0.05). On oocyte retrieval day it was 33.47 (± 3.93) pg/ml and 52.23 (± 9.72) pg/ml (p < 0.05), respectively.