Intravenous albumin administration for the prevention of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: a systematic review and metaanalysis.
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.
Venetis
Christos A
CA
Unit for Human Reproduction, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. venetis@gmail.com
Kolibianakis
Efstratios M
EM
Toulis
Konstantinos A
KA
Goulis
Dimitrios G
DG
Papadimas
Ioannis
I
Tarlatzis
Basil C
BC
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
D000418:Albumins