Serum and follicular fluid (FF) estradiol (E2) levels in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) during in vitro fertilization (IVF) and gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) conception cycles after pituitary suppression

Lipid Metabolic Disorders and Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome: A Retrospective Analysis

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effect of dyslipidemia on the incidence of moderate and severe Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in the duration of assisted reproduction technique (ART).

METHODS

The study included 233 moderate and severe OHSS patients who received hospitalization after in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles to avoid severe complications. They were divided into dyslipidemia group and normal lipid metabolism group to evaluate whether dyslipidemia contributes to the development of severe OHSS. Subgroup analysis was set to avoid deviation including the freeze-all group and fresh embryo transfer (ET) group according to whether the eligible women chose fresh embryo transfer immediately after their IVF or ICSI cycles. The main outcome measures included the incidence of moderate OHSS and severe OHSS, total gonadotropin dose, number of oocytes retrieved, age and body mass index (BMI). In the ET groups, the rate of pregnancy is also included for analysis.

RESULTS

In the freeze-all group, lipid metabolism was ultimately identified as the factor affecting the morbidity of severe OHSS and the ones with dyslipidemia were more likely to develop to severe OHSS (P < 0.05), while the incidence of severe OHSS among the ET groups had no statistical significance (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study suggested that dyslipidemia might contribute to the development of OHSS, especially for those patients who chose the cryopreservation of all embryos. It is essential to consider the risk of OHSS in patients with dyslipidemia although they required cryopreservation of all embryos.

Steroidogenesis of cultured granulosa cells in women at risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To determine if cultured human granulosa cells (GCs) obtained from women at risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) possess altered steroidogenic capacity.

DESIGN

Prospective analysis of 28 consecutive in vitro fertilization-gamete intrafallopian transfer (IVF-GIFT) cycles.

SETTING

In Vitro Fertilization Program at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois.

PATIENTS

Eighteen patients (group I) with serum estradiol (E2) levels > 7,342 pmol/L on the day of exogenous human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration (day 0) with > 10 ovarian follicles present (high risk for OHSS); 10 patients (group II) with E2 < or = 7,342 pmol/L on day 0 and < or = 10 follicles.

INTERVENTIONS

Human GCs obtained during gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist-pretreated IVF-GIFT cycles were cultured in the absence (control) or presence (hCG) of hCG, 1 IU/mL, and/or androstenedione (A) 10(-7) M. Granulosa cells obtained from follicles < or = 15 mm diameter were cultured separately from those obtained from follicles > 15 mm diameter.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Estradiol (E2) and progesterone were measured in tissue-culture medium by a solid-phase direct radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS

In vitro E2 production by cultured GCs was significantly increased in follicles < or = 15 mm diameter from women considered at risk of developing OHSS (group I). Estradiol response to hCG and/or A appeared enhanced in all follicles in group I. Progesterone production in the basal and hCG challenged state was greater in cells obtained from large follicles in group I than in group II.

CONCLUSION

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome appears to be a function of an increased number of follicles that express an enhanced steroidogenic capacity.