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

ObjectiveTo 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.DesignA retrospective comparative study.SettingAssisted 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.