Vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin-6 and interleukin-2 in serum and follicular fluid of patients with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.
BACKGROUND
The pathogenesis of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is not completely understood.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the presence of VEGF, IL-6 and IL-2, in serum and follicular fluid, in patients developing severe OHSS.


METHODS
We enrolled 101 women undergoing in vitro fertilization. Eight patients developing severe OHSS were compared with 43 high risk patients and 50 controls. We analyzed VEGF and IL-6 in serum collected before hCG administration, and in both serum and follicular fluid on the day of oocyte retrieval.


RESULTS
OHSS patients presented follicular fluid IL-6 levels higher than both the patients at risk and controls (P<0.05). On the day of the oocyte retrieval the patients developing OHSS showed serum and follicular VEGF values higher than the ones of the patients at risk (P<0.05). Serum and follicular fluid IL-2 levels showed no differences between the examined groups. IL-2, IL-6 and VEGF values were not correlated with each other.


CONCLUSIONS
Angiogenesis and inflammation processes are both present in severe OHSS.
Artini
P G
PG
Department of Reproductive Medicine and Child Development, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pisa, Via Roma 35, 56100, Pisa, Italy. g.artini@obgyn.med.unipi.it
Monti
M
M
Fasciani
A
A
Battaglia
C
C
D'Ambrogio
G
G
Genazzani
A R
AR
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D009865:Oocytes; D016471:Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors