Sir, We have read with great interest the recently published systematic review authored by Kaser and Racowsky (2014). This review enlightens the reader on the problem of utilizing time-lapse technology as a clinical tool based on the absence of ‘high quality’ data and advises the users to keep it as an experimental tool. Although we agree with the authors' general comment that standardization in embryo annotation is necessary, and that the existing literature does not yet provide any certainty on the improvement in live birth rates permitted by time-lapse monitoring (TLM), we would like to address some issues raised in this paper. First, the literature described as not having ‘high quality’ data represents, in our opinion, the irreplaceable starting point of future prospective studies, essential for elaborating relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to demonstrate the clinical usefulness of embryo morphokinetics. First, the morphokinetic differences between implanted and non-implanted embryos have been described and used to build algorithms (Meseguer et al., 2011). The benefit of this strategy over standard morphology has then been confirmed retrospectively (Meseguer et al., 2012), allowing the design of a ‘high quality’ RCT with the appropriate sample size and power (Rubio et al., 2014). Second, the authors state that current studies available on TLM demonstrate that faster cleaving embryos have a higher implantation potential, consistently with all previously published studies using conventional morphology, implying that TLM would have limited superiority over morphology. This statement should be nuanced, as there is some evidence that TLM can also provide some relevant exclusion criteria for embryo de-selection, regardless of embryo morphology (Rubio et al., 2012). In this view, one can postulate that future TLM would not only predict which embryo has the highest implantation potential, but also help the embryologist to discard the ones that have very low implantation potential. To go further, preliminary work recently published on the increased possibility of selecting chromosomally normal embryos by TLM paves the way for future studies aiming at identifying morphokinetic markers relevant for both embryo selection and de-selection for transfer (Basile et al., 2014). Third, we agree that single embryo transfer (SET) is the gold standard for studies aiming at revealing a link between embryological aspects and implantation. However, most studies on TLM used the concept of known implantation data (KID) embryos, embryos with known implantation. Whether excluding cycles with partial implantation negatively impacts validity should be debated, as external validation can be conducted in KID embryos too. One can also argue that any study conducted with a SET policy should not be extrapolated to double embryo transfer cycles, which still represent the large majority of IVF activity throughout the world. It would thus be interesting to check the SET proportion in published studies using the KID concept. Fourth, the authors mention concerns regarding light exposure in TLM. Embryo exposure to light during incubation in a time-lapse system has already been compared favorably with light exposure on standard microscope (Ottosen et al., 2007). Fifth, we fully agree that standardization in time-lapse nomenclature is necessary. However, whether tcf1 (identification of first cytokinesis furrow) is unequivocally identifiable and should be the standard reference can be debated, as pronucleus fading has been shown to offer an accurate alternative (Cruz et al., 2013). Sixth, we would like to insist on one aspect of clinical embryology that the authors shortly recall in their introduction. Indeed, conventional morphology assessment only allows moderate prediction of the embryos' implantation capability, and suffers from relatively limited specificity and sensitivity, with significant inter/intra observer variability. We obviously fully agree with this statement, especially as, to our knowledge, no RCT has evaluated the clinical interest of morphology evaluation. Moreover, few studies conducted in humans without any embryo selection, for example for legal reasons, showed that high cumulative pregnancy rates could also be obtained (Ubaldi et al., 2010). It should also be noted that variability is largely present in studies based on conventional morphology (media, atmosphere…); however, this has not invalidated its usefulness as the gold standard in embryology. Therefore, if one considers that any embryo assessment method not supported by ‘high quality’ evidence of its efficiency should be considered an experimental strategy subject to Internal Review Board approval, then all IVF labs across the world should reconsider most of the procedures that are routinely used including the way they choose embryos for transfer. It should also be recalled that morphology represents the first step of TLM-based embryo selection. In summary, we are confident that some conclusions drawn by the authors of this review will very soon be partially dismissed by ‘high quality’ clinical prospective studies, ruling out the statement that ‘TLM should remain an experimental strategy subject to institutional review and approval’.
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Fréour et al. (2014) studied this question.
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