title: Calcium infusion for the prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of calcium infusion as a preventive strategy of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in women at high risk in in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blinded randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital department of obstetrics and gynecology and private IVF center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred women at risk to develop OHSS undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention group (group 1; n = 100) received intravenous infusion of 10 mL 10% calcium gluconate in 100 mL 0.9% saline solution on the day of ovum pick-up (OPU) and days 1, 2, and 3 after, and the placebo group (group 2; n = 100) received 100 mL 0.9% saline solution on the day of OPU and days 1, 2, and 3 after.
  
  
  METHODS
  Incidence of OHSS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OHSS incidence was significantly higher in the placebo group (group 2) than in the calcium infusion group (group 1): 23 (23%) vs. 7 (7%); moderate OHSS was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1: 8 (8%) vs. 1 (1%); and severe OHSS was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1: 4 (4%) vs. 0.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravenous calcium infusion effectively reduced the incidence of OHSS development without reduction in the pregnancy rate.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT01427335.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Middle East Fertility Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt. Electronic address: waleedelkhayat@kasralainy.edu.eg.
authors.forename: Waleed
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: El-Khayat
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Middle East Fertility Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elsadek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D016471:Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium
keywords: OHSS; PCO; RCT; calcium infusion