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The Role of Intravenous Immunoglobulin in the Prevention of Severe Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome

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Abstract

Purpose: The role of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in the prevention of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) was evaluated.

Methods: Ovarian hyperstimulation was induced in eight rabbits using human menopausal gonadotropin/human chorionic gonadotropin (hMG/hCG) after pretreatment with IVIG (IVIG group) or bovine serum albumin (BSA group). Main outcome measures included (1) signs of OHSS, such as the degree of ascites formation and the increase in body weight; and (2) the degree of ovarian stimulation as reflected by serum sex-steroid hormone levels.

Results: A significantly lower ascites response and a tendency toward a decreased change in body weight were observed in the IVIG group compared to the BSA group. Serum estradiol, progesterone, total protein, and ovarian weights were not statistically different between the two groups.

Conclusions: IVIG prevented severe OHSS in a rabbit model, whereas BSA did not. Further studies are justified in an attempt to clarify the role of the immune system and IVIG in the pathophysiology and prevention of severe OHSS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rabin Medical Center—Campus Golda (Hasharon Hospital), Petah Tiqva, Israel

    Raoul Orvieto & Zion Ben-Rafael

  2. Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Raoul Orvieto, Anat Achiron & Zion Ben-Rafael

  3. Multiple Sclerosis Center, Sheba Medical Center (Tel-Hashomer), Ramat-Gan, Israel

    Anat Achiron

  4. Department of Cell Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

    Raanan Margalit

Authors
  1. Raoul Orvieto
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  2. Anat Achiron
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  3. Raanan Margalit
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  4. Zion Ben-Rafael
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Orvieto, R., Achiron, A., Margalit, R. et al. The Role of Intravenous Immunoglobulin in the Prevention of Severe Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome. J Assist Reprod Genet 15, 46–49 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022530406094

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022530406094

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