title: Serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels are poorly predictive of subsequent ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in highly responsive women undergoing assisted conception.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels can distinguish highly responsive women who subsequently develop ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) from women with a similar ovarian response who do not.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University IVF unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women undergoing IVF who met predetermined risk criteria for OHSS. Patients developing OHSS were compared with patients who did not develop OHSS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Long-protocol pituitary down-regulation followed by FSH stimulation by a standard protocol without coasting. A maximum of three embryos was transferred. Vaginal progesterone was used for luteal support.
  
  
  METHODS
  Occurrence of OHSS; serum VEGF concentrations on the day of embryo transfer (ET) and at 5 and 10 days after ET.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum VEGF levels at any time point did not differ significantly between 9 OHSS cases and 9 controls. Vascular endothelial growth factor levels in samples collected from cases before the onset of OHSS were higher than levels in time-matched samples from controls (medians, 177.6 [range, 64.02-549.1] pg/mL vs. 100.7 [range, 37.59-246] pg/mL, respectively), but the difference failed to reach statistical significance (P=.0518), and there was considerable overlap between cases and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum VEGF levels in the luteal phase do not distinguish between high-risk women who subsequently develop OHSS and women with a similar risk profile who do not develop OHSS.
authors.affiliation: Bristol University Centre for Reproductive Medicine., Bristol, United Kingdom. rajmathur@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Raj
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.forename: Grant
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hayman
authors.forename: Amolak
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000097:blood; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D016471:Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors