Increased risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension in young recipients of donated oocytes

Abstract

Objective: To assess the rates of select obstetric outcomes in oocyte donation (OD) recipients aged <35 years and > or =40 years and compare them to similarly aged IVF patients.

Design: Retrospective anonymous questionnaire study.

Setting: University-based IVF center.

Patient(s): Live-birth outcome was experienced by 199 OD recipients and 488 IVF patients <35 or > or =40 years.

Intervention(s): The OD or IVF cycles.

Main outcome measure(s): Response rate, pregnancy outcome, and complications.

Result(s): Response rate was 60%. The OD recipients had significantly higher rates of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) than their IVF counterparts. The OD <35 years had the highest rate (42%), followed by OD > or =40 years (26%), IVF > or =40 years (14%), and IVF patients <35 years (12%). In twin pregnancies, the rates of PIH remained higher in the OD groups: OD <35 years (56%), OD > or =40 years (36%), IVF > or =40 years (25%), and IVF <35 years (22%). Twin pregnancy rate was lowest in IVF patients > or =40 years (19%) and a lower preterm delivery rate (16%) reflected this difference. The cesarean section rates were 50% for singleton and 78% for twin deliveries in the OD patients <35 year; in OD patients > or =40 years, the rates were 75% and 84%, respectively.

Conclusion(s): The OD recipients are at higher risk for untoward obstetric outcomes than their IVF counterparts. Young OD recipients reported the highest rate of PIH, warranting further investigation into an association between early loss of ovarian function and PIH.