The Use of Pantoprazole Prior to Frozen Embryo Transfers - Clinical Trial
Keywords
pregnancy, embryo, pantoprazole, infertility, miscarriage, complications
Type of Proposal
Visual Presentation (Poster, Installation, Demonstration)
Faculty
Faculty of Science
Faculty Sponsor
Dr. Martin Crozier
Proposal
In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is a common infertility treatment involving the retrieval and fertilization of mature eggs1. Embryos from an IVF cycle or donor can be cryopreserved (frozen) to be used in a future pregnancy through a process known as frozen embryo transfer (FET). The frozen embryo is thawed just prior to transferring into the uterus to initiate pregnancy2. Preterm birth, occurring before 37 weeks of gestation, is the leading cause of perinatal and neonatal morbidity and mortality globally3. Other critical complications that can occur during pregnancy include ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage. However, IVF is associated with a higher incidence of preterm birth, ectopic pregnancy, and miscarriage compared to natural conception3.Tocolytics, or uterine relaxant drugs, are often prescribed to address preterm birth4, but their application is limited due to adverse effects and short delivery delays5. To address these limitations, new therapeutic agents have emerged. One common approach in these investigations is to repurpose existing drugs with demonstrated safety, such as proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), which act as effective relaxants of the myometrium via the Rho/ROCK pathway6. Pantoprazole, an FDA Category B and Health Canada-approved PPI, is safe for pregnancy use to reduce gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)-related symptoms7. Meta-analysis findings highlighted that PPI use during pregnancy demonstrated no increased risk for preterm delivery, spontaneous abortions, or major congenital birth defects8. Unfortunately, there is a gap in existing research, as few other studies investigate the use of PPIs during pregnancy and in conjunction with FET and IVF. This study will examine live birth rates and the presence/absence of pregnancy complications following the administration of pantoprazole during the time of FET.
The Use of Pantoprazole Prior to Frozen Embryo Transfers - Clinical Trial
In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is a common infertility treatment involving the retrieval and fertilization of mature eggs1. Embryos from an IVF cycle or donor can be cryopreserved (frozen) to be used in a future pregnancy through a process known as frozen embryo transfer (FET). The frozen embryo is thawed just prior to transferring into the uterus to initiate pregnancy2. Preterm birth, occurring before 37 weeks of gestation, is the leading cause of perinatal and neonatal morbidity and mortality globally3. Other critical complications that can occur during pregnancy include ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage. However, IVF is associated with a higher incidence of preterm birth, ectopic pregnancy, and miscarriage compared to natural conception3.Tocolytics, or uterine relaxant drugs, are often prescribed to address preterm birth4, but their application is limited due to adverse effects and short delivery delays5. To address these limitations, new therapeutic agents have emerged. One common approach in these investigations is to repurpose existing drugs with demonstrated safety, such as proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), which act as effective relaxants of the myometrium via the Rho/ROCK pathway6. Pantoprazole, an FDA Category B and Health Canada-approved PPI, is safe for pregnancy use to reduce gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)-related symptoms7. Meta-analysis findings highlighted that PPI use during pregnancy demonstrated no increased risk for preterm delivery, spontaneous abortions, or major congenital birth defects8. Unfortunately, there is a gap in existing research, as few other studies investigate the use of PPIs during pregnancy and in conjunction with FET and IVF. This study will examine live birth rates and the presence/absence of pregnancy complications following the administration of pantoprazole during the time of FET.