Bastu, ErcanGokulu, Sevki GoksunDural, OzlemYasa, CenkBulgurcuoglu, SibelBalci, Burcin KaramustafaogluCelik, CemBuyru, Faruk2019-10-272019-10-2720150301-21151872-7654https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2015.02.009https://hdl.handle.net/11454/40382Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of cathepsin B, relaxin and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in follicular fluid (FF) with pregnancy rates in infertility patients. Study design: Seventy-nine infertile couples who underwent ICSI were included in the study. The FF levels of cathepsin B, relaxin and AMH were measured using ELISA kits. Results: The FF cathepsin B levels were statistically higher in pregnant patients compared with nonpregnant patients (0.20 +/- 0.13 versus 0.13 +/- 0.03; P < 0.001). There were statistically significant differences in the total number of oocytes (10.00 +/- 6.85 versus 5.96 +/- 3.94); the mean number of M2 oocytes (8.65 +/- 5.63 versus 4.58 +/- 3.36) between the pregnant and non-pregnant patients (P < 0.05). There were no significant correlations between pregnancy rates and relaxin and AMH (P > 0.05). The area under the curve of cathepsin B for prediction of pregnancy was 0.662 (p = 0.024, 95% Confidence Interval 0.528-0.797). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that increased level of cathepsin B in FF significantly correlates with a better chance of clinical pregnancy. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of cathepsin B in the reproductive process of humans. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.en10.1016/j.ejogrb.2015.02.009info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessCathepsin BRelaxinAMHFollicular fluidInfertilityArticle1873034WOS:00035309180000625739053N/AQ3