Live births after management of severe OHSS by GnRH antagonist administration in the luteal phase

Abstract 

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a serious complication of ovarian stimulation protocols. Currently, no curative therapy exists and the main preventive option is cycle cancellation. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist administration in the luteal phase was recently proposed as a new approach for the management of patients with established severe OHSS. Three polycystic ovarian syndrome patients undergoing IVF treatment developed severe OHSS, diagnosed 6days after oocyte retrieval. On day 6, the patients underwent blastocyst transfer and received GnRH antagonist for 4days, combined with luteal phase support using exogenous oestradiol and progesterone. Two patients had successful pregnancies that resulted in births of healthy infants, while one patient had a biochemical pregnancy. In all patients, established severe OHSS regressed to a moderate form of the syndrome, no pregnancy-induced life-threatening OHSS was observed, while a short monitoring period was required at an outpatient level, avoiding the need for patient hospitalization. This is the first report in the literature on GnRH antagonist administration in the luteal phase, combined with embryo transfer and exogenous oestradiol and progesterone supplementation. This novel treatment was effective in the regression of established severe OHSS, and resulted in the birth of healthy infants.

Keywords: embryo cryopreservation, GnRH antagonist, luteal phase, luteolysis, OHSS, PCOS