Reduced incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome by prophylactic infusion of hydroxyaethyl starch solution in an in-vitro fertilization programme

Abstract

Prophylactic infusion of human serum albumin can reduce or mitigate severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in patients at high risk. Recently, concern has been expressed in the lay press regarding the potential viral transmissions with blood constituents. Hence, we looked for a safe non-biological substitute with comparable physical properties in order to cope with this concern. One hundred patients of our in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programme with oestradiol serum concentrations > or = 11010 pmol/l on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin injection and/or > or = 20 oocytes retrieved and/or previous severe OHSS were infused with 1000 ml 6% hydroxyaethyl starch solution at the time of oocyte collection and 500 ml 48 h later. A total of 82 IVF patients at risk without prophylactic infusions during the preceding years served as controls. Both groups were identical according to patient's age, body mass index, androgen concentrations, peak oestradiol concentrations, number of retrieved oocytes, fertilization and pregnancy rates. There were seven cases of severe OHSS in untreated patients and two cases in the treatment group (P = 0.08). In moderate OHSS a significant difference became obvious with only ten cases in the treatment group and 32 cases in the control group (P < 0.00001). Hydroxyaethyl starch solution seems to be an effective and economic alternative in reducing severe and moderate OHSS during IVF treatment.