title: Intravenous albumin administration for the prevention of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: a systematic review and metaanalysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To reappraise the currently available evidence, providing the answer to the following question: does intravenous albumin administration reduce the risk of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) occurrence following ovarian stimulation with gonadotrophins and GnRH analogues for IVF in high-risk patients?
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review and metaanalysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-based hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intravenous albumin administration in high-risk patients for prevention of severe OHSS occurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Severe OHSS occurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight eligible randomized controlled trials were identified (n=1,199 patients) that offered data for statistical pooling. No statistically significant difference in the occurrence of severe OHSS in patients who received intravenous albumin (n=595) and those who did not (n=604; odds ratio [OR], 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52-1.22) was detected. Moreover, no statistically significant differences were present regarding the probability of pregnancy (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.64-1.07) and first trimester pregnancy loss (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 0.73-2.85) between patients who received intravenous albumin and those who did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the currently best available evidence, intravenous albumin administration in high-risk patients does not appear to reduce the occurrence of severe OHSS. This finding should be considered when implementing strategies for severe OHSS prevention.
authors.affiliation: Unit for Human Reproduction, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. venetis@gmail.com
authors.forename: Christos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Venetis
authors.forename: Efstratios M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kolibianakis
authors.forename: Konstantinos A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Toulis
authors.forename: Dimitrios G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Goulis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papadimas
authors.forename: Basil C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Tarlatzis
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D016471:Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins