Clinical and laboratory evaluation of hospitalized patients with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is an important complication of ovarian stimulation and IVF that enhances patients' morbidity. To evaluate any increased incidence of hospitalization from severe OHSS during 2000, this study analysed certain clinical, ultrasound and laboratory characteristics of hospitalized patients with severe OHSS. These studies were carried out on women undergoing IVF who were hospitalized because of severe OHSS between 1996 and 2000 at the Hôpital Antoine Béclère. Patients' ages and serum hormone concentrations were collected on day 3 of ovarian stimulation for various assays, and laboratory and ultrasound measurements taken during ovarian stimulation for IVF were compared. An increase was noted during last year in the frequency of the severe form of OHSS requiring hospitalization (0.9 versus 1.8%, P < 0.05). Patients' ages and hormonal characteristics on day 3 of menstrual cycle, and laboratory and ultrasound variables were similar between the two groups. In addition, the increased incidence of OHSS during 2000 was not associated with any special laboratory or ultrasound parameter, and the policy of ovarian induction had not changed. It is essential to introduce a simple ovarian stimulation protocol providing acceptable IVF results with a minimum of risk.