tional methods. The outcome of their subsequent ovum donation cycle was blinded to the reviewer of the EFT. The EFT consisted of immunohisto- chemistry utilizing antibodies against cyclin E,the key regulator of the mitotic cycle’s G1/S transition. Each biopsy was graded asnormalor abnormal compared to the results obtained from fertile controls. As previ- ously published, normal expression patterns of cyclin E have been associ- ated with implantation success while abnormal patterns with implantation failure. RESULTS: Nineteen (95%) of the 20 ovum recipients had a normal mock cycle EFT.This is significantly higher (p ⫽ 0.000006)than whatwe demonstrated in unexplained infertility patients where only 30 (40%) of 75 such patients had a normal EFT. Of the patients with a normal mock cycle EFT, 13 had a detectable fetal heart while 6 did not become pregnant in their subsequent transfer cycles. The one patient with an abnormal EFT did not become pregnant in her subsequent transfer cycle. CONCLUSION: Unlike patients with unexplained infertility, these donor recipients had a remarkably high incidence of normal endometrial develop- mentas assessed by the EFT. This is notunexpected since this group is enriched in women with ovarian infertility as compared to women with implantation failure. The stimulation protocol utilized in this study appears to mimic the natural cycle since 95% of these women had normal endome- trial development, which is comparable to the results seen in fertile control patients. While a normal EFT does not guarantee a successful pregnancy, an abnormal EFT appears to be associated with pregnancy failure. Thus,an abnormal EFT may be useful to identify the select women who need to have theirstimulation protocols adjusted prior to progressing to a physically, emotionally, and financially costly ovum donation cycle. Supported by: Reproductive and Placental Research Unit, Yale Univer- sity and Mount Sinai School of Medicine P-339 The Role of Endometrial Biopsy in the Evaluation of Recurrent Im- plantation Failure. J. M. Hartnett, L. Engmann, M. M. Sanders, D. Maier, J. Nulsen, C. Benadiva. University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT. OBJECTIVE: Determine the role of endometrial biopsy in patients un- dergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) who repeatedly fail to conceive despite the transfer of good quality embryos. DESIGN: Retrospective comparative study in a tertiary care center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the 2001-2004 timeframe, we examined all the endometrial biopsies performed on patients who failed at least two consecutive IVF-ET cycles and then proceeded with either a fresh IVF-ET orthaw cycle after the biopsy date (n⫽26). All biopsies were performed using a Pipelle catheter after confirmation of a negative preg- nancy test. Biopsieswere evaluated by the same University Pathology Department. Chronic endometritis was defined as the presence of plasma cells in the endometrial stroma. Chronic endometritis was treated with antibiotics and a repeat biopsy showing normal endometrium was obtained prior to the initiation of the next cycle. All patients had previous negative cervical cultures for gonorrhea and chlamydia. Each patient had a minimum of one good quality embryo (at least6-cellon day #3 after retrieval with grades of I, II or III) transferred. Our study population consisted of three groups: Group 1 (n⫽9) included patients with chronic endometritis, Group 2 (n⫽17) were patients with negative biopsies and Group 3 (n⫽148) consisted of patients who failed two consecutive IVF-ET cycles (during 2001-2004) and did not undergo biopsy. The Chi-square or Fisher’s Exact Test were used for categorical variables where appropriate and a t-test was used for continuous variables. RESULTS: The comparison of characteristics and results between the three groups is shown in Table 1. Chronic endometritis was found in 34.6% (9/26)of the patients biopsied. Age,numberof previous failed cycles, number of transferred embryos and the number of good quality embryos were similar between the three groups. The distribution of fresh and cryo- thaw embryo replacement cycles were similar between the three groups. Patients in Group 1 had significantly lower ongoing pregnancy (11.1%) and implantation rates (8.3%) when compared to patients in Groups 2 and 3 (p⬍0.05). There were no significant differences found in ongoing preg- nancy and implantation rates between Groups 2 and 3. CONCLUSION: Approximately 35% of patients tested were found to have chronic endometritis, confirming the importance of sampling the endometrial cavity in recurrent IVF-ET failures. This pathology may per- manently alter the integrity or biochemical milieu within the endometrial cavity. While the diagnostic capabilities of the endometrial biopsy ar established, our study suggests it offers additional prognostic information for patients with recurrent IVF failure. Patients with chronic endometritis had lower ongoing pregnancy and implantation rates in a subsequen when compared to Groups 2 and 3, despite having a negative biopsy after antibiotic treatment. Supported by: None. P-340 The Effect of Tubal Pathosis on IVF-ET Outcome. H. Wang, J. Qiao, G. Chen, P. Liu. Peking University, the Third Hospital, Beijing, China; P University, Beijing, China. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that IVF-ET outcome of infertil patients with tubal disease are affected by tubal pathosis and to inve wheather or not salpingectomy may reduce ovarian response during DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients (n⫽284) undergoing IVF cycles were divided into four groups based on the tubal pathosis (sal- pingemphraxis, unilateral salpingectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, hy- drosalpinx). Patients ⬎39-year-old and patients with male factor in fertilitiy were excluded from the study. The IVF-ET outcomes of four groups were compared. RESULTS: Patients with hydrosalpinxs had significantly decreased nancyratesper transfer(18% ) thanpatientswithouthydrosalpinx (33%)(P⬍0.05). There were no differences in the numbers of follicles oocytes recovered from the ovary on unilateral salpingectomy (6. 27⫽ 4.28)and the contralateral side(6.88 ⫽4. 39)(P⬎.05). The incidence o pregnancy loss was higher in the hydrosalpinx group (33.3%) than in other three groups (6.5%). The ectopic pregnancy rate was not different betwwen four groups. Two patients in bilateral salpingectomy group suf- fered from ectopic pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The presence of hydrosapinx during an IVF-ET cycle results in significant decreases in pregnancy rate and higher early p loss rate. Bilateral and unilateral salpingectomy before IVF-ET cycle ment have no significant detrimental effect on ovary response during It is necessary to treat hydrosapinx before IVF-ET cycle. Ectopic pre still probably occur even after bilateral salpingectomy. Supported by: None P-341 Mock Embryo Transfer Prior to an In Vitro Fertilization Cycle tively Correlates With RealEmbryo Transfer. N. Moossavifar, N. Khadem, A. Torabizadeh. Montaserieh IVF Center, Mashhad, Iran (Is Republic of); Montaserieh IVF Center, Mashhad, Iran (Islamic Republic of). OBJECTIVE: It has been demonstrated that performing a mock em transfer (ET) significantly improves the pregnancy rate in IVF cycles mock ET can be performed prior to the stimulation cycle or right bef ET. The problem of the first procedure is the possibility of variation i uterine position and or cervico -uterine angle. The purpose of this stu to determine the consistency of the type of ET in mock ET prior to th treatment cycle with real ET. DESIGN: Retrospective study in an University affiliated infertility c MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty treatment cy on 141 patients carried out between January 2003 and September 2004 * p⬍0.05 between Group 1 when compared to Groups 2 and 3. S272 Abstracts Vol. 84,Suppl 1, September 2005