Serum albumin levels in women with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome with or without polycystic ovaries.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate serum albumin levels in women with and without polycystic ovaries (PCO) before and during the development of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), and to compare them with control women who did not develop OHSS.

METHODS

We conducted a case-control study in a teaching hospital in which 49 women who developed OHSS after ovarian follicular stimulation for infertility were evaluated and compared with 91 control women who did not develop OHSS. The main outcome measures were levels of serum albumin, measured once in control subjects and before and after the development of OHSS in cases.

RESULTS

Among women who developed OHSS, 30 had PCO and 19 others had no PCO. The mean baseline serum albumin level in women with PCO who subsequently had severe OHSS (38.8 ± 1.0 g/L) was lower than in those who developed moderate OHSS (41.8 ± 0.8 g/L) (P < 0.05) and in the control group (41.7 ± 0.4 g/L) (P < 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Baseline serum albumin levels in women with PCO who subsequently develop severe OHSS are lower than in those who develop moderate OHSS or do not develop OHSS. Confirmation of these findings with a large study is needed.