Intravenous albumin versus hydroxyethyl starch for the prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation in an in-vitro fertilization programme: a prospective randomized placebo controlled study. Intravenous albumin does not prevent moderate-severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in high-risk IVF patients: a randomized controlled study. Intravenous albumin for the prevention of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in an in vitro fertilization program: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Human albumin does not prevent ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in assisted reproductive technology program: a prospective randomized placebo-controlled double blind study. Prophylactic intravenous hydroxyethyle starch solution prevents moderate-severe ovarian hyperstimulation in in-vitro fertilization patients: a prospective, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study. Comparison of intravenous albumin and transfer of fresh embryos with cryopreservation of all embryos for subsequent transfer in prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Decreased incidence of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in high risk in-vitro fertilization patients receiving intravenous albumin: a prospective study.
A prospective randomized placebo controlled clinical trial was carried out on 250 patients (cycles) considered at risk of developing OHSS in an IVF programme. Criteria for inclusion were: estradiol value of more than 3000 pg/ml or the presence of more than 20 follicles on the day of hCG administration. Patients were randomized by using a random table to receive either 20% human albumin 50 ml (n: 82); 6% hydroxyethyl starch (200/0.5) 500 ml (n: 85) or a placebo of 500 ml 0.9% NaCl solution (n: 83) over 30 min during oocyte collection. Groups were similar with respect to patients' age, estradiol levels on hCG day, body mass index, number of oocytes retrieved, number of embryos transferred and pregnancies (P>0.05). There was no severe OHSS in patients who received albumin and HES while four patients who received placebo developed severe OHSS. On the other hand moderate OHSS was encountered in four patients in the albumin group; five patients receiving HES; and 12 patients receiving placebo. There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of moderate, severe and overall OHSS among groups (P values of <0.05, <0.05, and <0.01, respectively). Both HES and albumin significantly reduced the incidence of moderate, severe and overall incidence of OHSS. It is concluded that hydroxyethyl starch is a cheaper and safer alternative to Human Albumin in OHSS prevention. Intravenous albumin administration has been described for many years as a debatable, but probably useful preventive measure in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). The present study details the largest randomized controlled trial to date of albumin infusion versus no treatment in IVF patients with a high risk of developing moderate to severe OHSS.
                Between March 1999 and February 2002, women undergoing IVF at the IVI Valencia with >20 retrieved oocytes were included. A total of 988 patients was initially enrolled. Immediately after oocyte retrieval, patients were allocated to two groups based on a computer randomization: the first group received 40 g human albumin; the second group received no treatment. Subjects were weighed and a blood analysis performed immediately after oocyte retrieval and again 7 days later. Women were monitored on an outpatient basis until menstruation, or until fetal heart activity was detected. Twelve subjects were excluded due to follow-up loss, leaving 976 women (377 of them oocyte donors), with 488 in each group.
                No difference was found between the two groups in terms of patient characteristics and outcome. Moderate-severe and severe-only OHSS rates were similar. The incidence of haemoconcentration and liver and renal dysfunction at 7 days after oocyte retrieval was similar in the two groups. In women who developed moderate/severe (n = 66) or only severe (n = 46) OHSS, there was no difference based on prior albumin administration between blood parameters or body weight on the day of oocyte retrieval, 7 days later, and even when comparing variation between both measurements. Moreover, the number of patients with paracentesis, hospital admissions, complications and days of OHSS until resolution did not differ.
                Albumin infusion on the day of oocyte retrieval is not a useful means of preventing the development of moderate-severe OHSS. To evaluate the efficacy of i.v. administration of human albumin solution for the prevention of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).
                A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study comparing the effects of i.v. administration of human albumin solution versus sodium chloride 0.9% solution at the time of oocyte retrieval with patients undergoing IVF-ET who are at high risk for the development of severe OHSS.
                Specialized assisted reproduction unit.
                Thirty-one patients undergoing IVF-ET who had serum E2 levels of 1,906 pg/mL (> 7,000 pmol/L) and multiple follicular development on the day of hCG administration.
                After hCG administration, patients were randomized to receive i.v., either 50 g of human albumin diluted in 500 mL of sodium chloride 0.9% or 500 mL of sodium chloride 0.9% at the time of oocyte retrieval.
                Ovarian size as measured by pelvic ultrasonography, development of ascites, serum E2 concentrations during the luteal phase, and results of the IVF-ET cycles.
                Although no patient who had received human albumin solution developed severe OHSS, there were four such cases in the control group. All four were hospitalized with marked ascites and ovarian enlargement. There were no significant differences between the two groups comparing serum E2 levels on the day of hCG administration and during the luteal phase, the number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization, and pregnancy rates.
                Our preliminary results suggest that the administration of human albumin solution may help to prevent the development of severe OHSS in high-risk patients. Further research is needed to assess the potential of this novel approach. We aimed to clarify the efficiency of IV human albumin in the prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). We found that human albumin at the described strength does not seem to either prevent or reduce the incidence of severe OHSS in high risk patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). A prospective, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of i.v. administration of 6% hydroxyethyle starch solution (HES) in preventing moderate and severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in patients in an in-vitro fertilization programme. A total of 101 women who had serum oestradiol concentrations >1500 pg/ml and/or more than 10 follicles on day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration were recruited into two groups: HES group (n = 51) received 1000 ml 6% HES; and the placebo group (n = 50) received 1000 ml of sodium chloride 0.9% solution at the time shortly after embryo transfer. Follow-up examinations 7 +/- 1 and 14 +/- 1 days after embryo transfer included transvaginal ultrasound (diameters of each ovary and maximum cysts, number of cysts, ascites), blood tests (serum oestradiol, progesterone, beta-HCG, C-reactive protein, blood count, plasma proteins, electrolytes, kidney function tests) and evaluation of abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea, abdominal swelling and weight gain. Only one moderate OHSS developed in the HES group whereas seven moderate-severe cases were observed in the placebo group (P = 0.031). Furthermore, serum oestradiol concentration, leukocyte count, increase in abdominal circumference and weight gain 14 days after embryo transfer were significantly higher in the placebo group. There were no differences between the two groups in terms of age, oestradiol concentration and number of follicles at time of HCG injection. Administration of 6% HES prevents the development of moderate-severe OHSS in risk patients. To compare the efficacy of administration i.v. albumin to prevent severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in patients undergoing ovarian stimulation for IVF with a standard policy of cryopreserving all embryos and to assess the impact of the two methods of treatment on pregnancy rates (PRs).
                Prospective randomized study.
                A tertiary referral center for assisted conception.
                Twenty-six patients undergoing IVF treatment cycles who were considered to be at high risk of developing severe OHSS on the basis of their serum E2 concentrations on the day of hCG administration and the number of oocytes collected.
                In group 1 (n = 13) all the generated embryos were cryopreserved to be transferred subsequently in hormonally manipulated cycles. In group 2 (n = 13) patients received IV infusions of albumin on the day of oocyte retrieval and 5 days later. Patients in group 2 had transfers of fresh embryos.
                The total dosage of hMG used, total number of follicles developed, number of follicles > 14 mm in diameter, serum E2 concentrations and endometrial thickness on day of hCG administration, number of oocytes retrieved, number and quality of embryos generated, PRs per cycle commenced, and onset and degree of any OHSS developed.
                There were no significant differences in the above parameters between the two groups, except for PRs that were significantly higher in patients who had all embryos cryopreserved (38.6% versus 0%).
                The policy of cryopreserving all generated embryos appears as effective as the administration of i.v. albumin in preventing OHSS in high-risk patients and produces significantly higher PRs. The administration of human serum albumin has been reported to prevent severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) while undergoing ovarian stimulation protocols for in-vitro fertilization (IVF). This prospective, randomized study investigated the effectiveness of a single dose of human serum albumin (20 g) administered i.v. immediately after oocyte retrieval. Women enrolled in the IVF programme were treated with long gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist, triptorelin, and an individually-adjusted human menopausal gonadotrophin protocol. The criteria for inclusion in the study were young age, non-obesity, oestradiol concentration > 9200 pmol/l on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin administration and > 20 follicles > 14 mm diameter as observed by transvaginal sonography. The treatment group (n = 22) received albumin while the control group (n = 18) did not. Patients were followed-up using ultrasound every 3 days. There was a significantly higher number of severe OHSS cases in the control group (n = 4) than in the treatment group (n = 0) (P = 0.035). Where the data base was restricted to patients with an oestradiol concentration > 15,000 pmol/l, the difference between control and treatment groups was highly significant (P = 0.008). These findings support the use of i.v. albumin in preventing severe OHSS during IVF treatment.
There is limited evidence of benefit from intra-venous albumin administration at the time of oocyte retrieval in the prevention or reduction of the incidence of severe OHSS in high risk women undergoing IVF or ICSI treatment cycles. Hydroxyethyl starch markedly decreases the incidence of severe OHSS.