[Analysis of oxidative stress levels in IVF patients in relation to clinical characteristics]

Introduction: The role of oxidative stress in infertility and its treatment is an increasingly studied field. Conditions associated with sterility, diseases, and assisted reproductive technologies all contribute to oxidative stress burden. Among clinical characteristics, body mass index (BMI) and hormonal treatments play a crucial role in oxidative stress dynamics. During in vitro fertilization (IVF), measuring 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels in follicular fluid and granulosa cells is an accepted method for oxidative stress assessment. Objective: Our aim was to explore associations between 8-OHdG and environmental or patient characteristics (BMI, follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], luteinizing hormone [LH], estradiol, etc.) using multivariate statistical methods. Method: Between January and May 2022, at the University of Pécs, we analyzed follicular fluid and granulosa cell samples from 35 IVF patients. Oxidative stress markers were assessed in relation to patient characteristics and clinical outcomes. Results: No significant differences were found in oxidative stress marker levels between the pregnant and the non-pregnant group. Canonical correspondence analysis identified BMI, FSH, LH, estradiol, and FSH dose as significant influencing factors for oxidative stress. Generalized additive models revealed a nonlinear impact of BMI and estradiol, higher BMI was associated with increased oxidative stress, while estradiol showed a concentration-dependent non-linear effect. Baseline FSH level demonstrated a significant positive linear relationship with oxidative stress markers. Discussion and conclusion: Obesity-related oxidative stress increase was clearly detectable in our study. While the literature acknowledges the oxidative stress-enhancing effect of controlled ovarian stimulation, the dependency on FSH dose remains controversial despite the significant association found in our results. Evaluating oxidative stress levels in infertile patients may help improve treatment success rates. Careful assessment of laboratory parameters and potential interventions before initiating IVF treatment is crucial, and controlled ovarian stimulation protocols should be optimized considering their oxidative stress-enhancing and outcome-reducing effects. Orv Hetil. 2025; 166(28): 1107–1116.