DOPPLER PARAMETERS OF THE OVARIAN AND UTERINE BLOOD-CIRCULATION IN OVARIAN HYPERSTIMULATION SYNDROME

Nine in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients with moderate or severe ova rian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) were recruited for a longitudina l study. Twenty-four unselected, asymptomatic patients undergoing simi lar IVF treatment were used as controls. OHSS was diagnosed 8-13 days after oocyte retrieval. All subjects were examined with pulsed color D oppler ultrasound. The pulsatility index (PI) and the maximum peak sys tolic velocity of the uterine and the intra-ovarian arterial blood flo w were measured. There were no significant differences in the mean PI or the maximum peak systolic velocity of the uterine and intra-ovarian arterial blood flow between symptomatic patients and controls during the first examination. Ar the resolution of symptoms, however, the mea n PI of the uterine artery was significantly lower in pregnant patient s with OHSS than in pregnant controls (p < 0.01). The development of t he OHSS could not be explained by the circulatory conditions observed in the intra-ovarian and uterine arteries.