Intravenous calcium infusion as a novel preventive therapy of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome for patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of IV calcium infusion on prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing assisted reproductive techniques cycles.

Design: A retrospective comparative study.

Setting: Assisted reproduction techniques centre in Turkey.

Patient(s): Four hundred fifty-five women with high risk for OHSS.

Intervention(s): The patients in group I (n = 84) were administered IV calcium gluconate for prevention of OHSS, and the patients in group II (n = 371) comprised the control group, with no manipulation for prevention of OHSS and were age- and body mass index-matched with the study group.

Main outcome measure(s): Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome rate, clinical pregnancy rate.

Result(s): Mean (±SD) ages of the women in the calcium infusion group (group I) and the control group (group II) were comparable (30.5 ± 4.3 vs. 31.4 ± 3.9, respectively). Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome was found in 16.2% (60 patients) in group II, whereas in group I, only 3 patients (3.6%) developed OHSS. Interestingly, all the hyperstimulation cases in group I were mild, and there was no severe effect. Implantation rates were similar in both groups. Furthermore, we obtained clinical pregnancy in nearly 40.5% in group I and 28.8% in group II. The live-birth rate was 38.1% in the calcium infusion group and 24.8% in the control group.

Conclusion(s): Intravenous calcium infusion resulted in a significantly lower rate of development of OHSS for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and high risk of OHSS. This novel therapy may be used for prevention of OHSS effectively.

Copyright © 2011 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.