INTRAVENOUS ALBUMIN DOES NOT PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE OVARIAN HYPERSTIMULATION SYNDROME IN AN IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION PROGRAM

A cohort study was undertaken to compare the effect at the time of ooc yte retrieval of the i.v. administration of either 1000 mi of lactated Ringer's solution or 1000 mi of a 5% solution of human albumin on in- vitro fertilization patients at risk for severe ovarian hyperstimulati on syndrome (OHSS). A total of 207 patients with an oestradiol concent ration >10 000 pmol/l and/or >15 follicles (>10 mm diameter) on the da y of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) injection were reviewed. Of t hese, 158 women received 500 mi of lactated Ringer's solution both bef ore and after egg retrieval, and 49 women received two infusions of 50 0 mi of 5% human albumin in normal saline at the time of egg retrieval , Severe OHSS developed in two patients who received human albumin and in 10 women who did not receive the albumin, This difference was not statistically significant. There were no differences between the two g roups in terms of age, number of follicles punctured at transvaginal o ocyte retrieval or oestradiol concentration at the time of HCG injecti on, The administration of a 5% human albumin solution does not prevent the development of severe OHSS in at risk patients. It does appear to blunt the severity of the condition.