Meta-Analysis
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2015.
World J Obstet Gynecol. Nov 10, 2015; 4(4): 113-123
Published online Nov 10, 2015. doi: 10.5317/wjog.v4.i4.113
Table 1 Characteristics of included trials
TrialCountryMean ageInclusion criteriaDay of embryo transferNumber of embryos transferredPublication type
Balaban et al[16]
HASwedenNAMale factorDay 2-33.1Full text
PVP3.1
Barak et al[5]
HAIsrael31.0Male factorDay 2-33.8Full text
PVP30.93.8
Castillo-Baso et al[17]
HAMexico35.1NADay 2-3 or day 5-6NAAbstract
PVP35.3
Choe et al[18]
HAKorea35.4Previous low fertilization rateDay 3 or day 5NAFull text
PVPMultiple IVF failures
Gandhi et al[19]
HASpainNANANANAAbstract
PVP
Majumdar et al[20]
HAIndia31.7Unexplained infertility, normal semen analysisDay 2-32.49Full text
PVP31.52.39
Moon et al[21]
HAKoreaNANADay 3 or day 5NAAbstract
PVP
Parmegiani et al[22]
HAItaly37.5Sperm number > 106 and sperm motility > 5%Day 2-32.25Full text
PVP37.12.15
Van Den Bergh et al[23]
HASwitzerlandNAWomen younger than 38 yr with at least four metaphase II oocytesDay 2-3NAFull text
PVP
Worrilow et al[24]
HAUnited StatesNANANANAAbstract
PVP
Worrilow et al[25]
HAUnited States33.3Women younger than 40 years with at least four metaphase II oocytes; Men with sperm count > 10000/mLDay 2-3 or day 5-6NAFull text
PVP33.7
Table 2 Treatment protocol adopted in included trials
Ref.HA groupPVP group
Balaban et al[16]Oocytes were injected with sperm exposed to, SpermCatch (NidaCon International, Gothenburg, Sweden), a viscous liquid containing hyaluronate and human serum albuminOocytes were injected with sperm exposed to the PVP-containing product
Barak et al[5]Sperm suspension which contained motile spermatozoa was introduced into the center of viscous suspension of hyaluronic acid. Motility of the sperm cells was slowed down. After breaking the sperm tail with the injection pipette, the spermatozoa were injected into the oocytesMII oocytes were injected with sperm cells which were immobilized and aspirated for injection in 10% PVP solution
Castillo-Baso et al[17]Sperm selected by PICSI (Mid Atlantic Diag. Inc.)Sperm selected by conventional ICSI
Gandhi et al[19]2 μL droplet with suspension of spermatozoa was placed to a 5 μL droplet of HA-containing medium (SpermSlow; MediCult, Jyllinge, Denmark) and incubated for 15 min at 37 °C under oil. Spermatozoa bound to HA in the junction of the two droplets were identified and carefully detached by injecting pipette (ICSI Micropipette; TPC, Thebarton, Adelaide, South Australia) and subsequently injected into a MII oocyteBefore injection, 3 μL of sperm suspension was transferred to 7 μL of 7% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP; SAGE) solution to remove debris and get better control. Spermatozoa with best morphology were selected for injection into a MII oocytes using inverted microscope equipped with micromanipulators
Gandhi et al[19]Donated oocytes to avoid female infertility as a bias factor, randomly carried out with SpermSlow for sperm selectionDonated oocytes to avoid female infertility as a bias factor randomly carried out with PVP for sperm selection
Majumdar et al[20]Sterile PICSI dishes (Origio MidAtlantic Devices, United States) with three hyaluronan microdots attached to the interior bottom, were used. 10 μL droplets of culture medium (GMOPS, Vitrolife) were placed over the hyaluronan microdots and an elongated 10 μL drop of PVP was made below the drops, before covering the dish with oil. 1-2 μL of sperm suspension was then added to the hyaluronan microdot containing droplets. After 5 min of incubation at 37 °C, HA bound sperm with normal morphology were removed with an injecting micropipette (TPC, Australia) to the adjacent PVP droplet, immobilized and subsequently injectedAn elongated 10 μL poly vinyl pyrolidone drop (PVP, Medicult, Denmark) under oil, was used to select spermatozoa with normal morphology for subsequent injection
Moon et al[21]ICSI were performed with husband spermatozoa which immobilized in 2.5 mg/mL hyaluronic acidICSI were performed with husband spermatozoa which immobilized in 5% PVP
Parmegiani et al[22]Spermatozoa were selected for their ability to bind to HA: A 2-mL droplet with suspension of spermatozoa was connected with a pipette tip to a 5-mL droplet of HA-containing medium (SpermSlow; MediCult) and allowed to incubate for 15 min at 37 °C under oil (Liquid Paraffin; MediCult). Spermatozoa bound to HA in the junction zone of the two droplets were selected and easily detached by injecting pipette (ICSI Micropipette; Humagen Fertility Diagnostics) and subsequently injected into oocytesConventional PVP-ICSI procedure
Worrilow et al[24]At the time of injection, drops were prepared in the lid of a Falcon Petri dish (353004; Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, United States). In the middle of the dish a 10 μL drop of Spermslow (Medicult) and a 10 μL Flushing Medium drop (Medicult) were connected by a 3-4 mm junction bridge of medium and consecutively encircled by five 10 μL drops of Flushing medium. This setup was covered with liquid paraffin (Medicult). A 2 μL volume of prepared semen was added to the medium part of the Spermslow/Flushing medium central mixture. The spermatozoa were allowed to migrate towards the junction for a period of 15-20 min at 37 °C. Spermatozoa were carefully selected near the junction between the sperm droplet and the SpermSlow dropletNon-bound, forward-moving spermatozoa were taken from the SpermSlow droplet
Worrilow et al[24]PICSI embryos created using Hyaluron Bond-spermStandard sperm selection criteria
Worrilow et al[25]The final sperm suspension of HYAL patients was placed upon microdots of hyaluronan in the PICSI Sperm Selection Device (Biocoat, Inc., Horsham, PA) and overlaid with oil. Following a 5-10 min incubation period, HB sperm were selected following the manufacturer’s instructionsThe final sperm suspension of patients in the control group was placed into standard ICSI dishes for selection
Table 3 Variables used for systematic review and meta-analysis n (%)
TrialTransfers (n)Fertilisation rateGood embryosClinical pregnancyImplantation rateLive birth
Balaban et al[16]Women
HA48360 (72.14)226 (50.33)20 (41.66)27 (18.12)19 (39.58)
PVP44337 (75.05)211 (46.99)19 (43.18)27 (19.14)18 (40.90)
Barak et al[5]Cycles
HA58525 (72.61)NA29 (50.00)41 (18.55)NA
PVP65484 (74.57)25 (38.46)35 (14.00)
Castillo-Baso et al[17]Women
HA30143 (49.14)87 (29.89)16 (53.33)-34NA
PVP30134 (50.95)84 (31.93)12 (40.00)-24
Castillo-Baso et al[17]Women
HA30140 (56.91)105 (42.68)14 (46.66)-25NA
PVP30163 (61.97)99 (37.64)13 (43.33)-22
Choe et al[18]
HA18 women81 (75.70)13 (12.14)NANANA
PVP93 (83.03)15 (13.39)
Gandhi et al[19]Women
HA77909 (82.33)675 (61.14)41 (53.24)NANA
PVP77923 (82.48)698 (62.37)47 (61.03)
Majumdar et al[20]Women
HA71353 (64.65)154 (43.62)25 (35.21)39 (22.03)22 (30.98)
PVP80371 (65.66)170 (45.82)28 (35.00)36 (18.84)21 (26.25)
Moon et al[21]
HA1 woman18 (81.81)11 (50.99)NANANA
PVP22 (78.57)10 (35.71)
Parmegiani et al[22]Cycles
HA125304 (91.56)101 (30.42)31 (24.80)35 (12.41)29 (23.20)
PVP105236 (85.81)55 (20.00)22 (20.95)23 (10.17)19 (18.09)
Van Den Bergh et al[23]
HA44 women154 (75.49)NANANANA
PVP142 (69.95)
Worrilow et al[24]Women
HA777 (61.11)NA4 (57.14)NANA
PVP898 (66.66)2 (25.00)
Worrilow et al[24]Women
HA2372105 (77.21)NA112 (47.25)NANA
PVP2452024 (74.41)117 (47.75)
Total
HA5169 (74.63)1372 (46.44)292 (42.75)142 (17.12)70 (28.68)
PVP5027 (74.00)1342 (46.59)285 (41.66)121 (14.97)58 (25.32)