Administration of methylprednisolone to prevent severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether administration of methylprednisolone to high-risk women undergoing IVF/ICSI helps reduce the development of OHSS.


METHODS
Retrospective clinical controlled study.


METHODS
IVF unit.


METHODS
One thousand ten women who underwent IVF/ICSI from January 9, 1997, to December 31, 1999. Ninety-one patients who were at high risk for OHSS were identified by using standard criteria.


METHODS
Methylprednisolone, 16 mg/d starting on day 6 of the stimulation and tapered after the first pregnancy test (day 13 after embryo transfer).


METHODS
Occurrence of OHSS.


RESULTS
A significantly lower proportion of methylprednisolone recipients than untreated participants developed OHSS (10.0% vs. 43.9%). Treatment recipients had more oocytes retrieved and more embryos fertilized than did untreated participants. Methylprednisolone treatment was equally effective in preventing OHSS in all causes of infertility and was effective independent of the number of IVF trials and pregnancy rates.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with methylprednisolone appears to reduce the risk for OHSS. This treatment thus helps to avoid hospitalization, reduces cycle cancellations, and improves the cost-effectiveness of IVF cycles.
Lainas
Trifon
T
IVF Unit, Iatriki Erevna, Athens, Greece. iatrikiereyna@ath.forthnet.gr
Petsas
Georgios
G
Stavropoulou
Georgia
G
Alexopoulou
Efthymia
E
Iliadis
George
G
Minaretzis
Dimitrios
D
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology; D016471:Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008775:Methylprednisolone