Plasma levels of free vascular endothelial growth factor₁₆₅ (VEGF₁₆₅) are not elevated during gonadotropin stimulation in in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS): results of a prospective cohort study with matched controls

Abstract 

Objective: To evaluate whether differences in plasma vascular endothelial growth factor₁₆₅ (VEGF₁₆₅) concentrations exist during gonadotropin stimulation in IVF patients developing severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) compared to matched controls.

Study design: Prospective cohort study with comparison of 15 OHSS cases with 30 matched (age, follicle numbers, pregnancy) controls. Unpaired students t-test was used to evaluate differences between the OHSS and control group and correlations were calculated with Pearson’s test.

Result(s): Plasma levels of VEGF₁₆₅, at four time-points from start of gonadotropin stimulation to embryo transfer (ET), were compared and related to steroid levels and ultrasound data. There were no differences between OHSS and control patients in plasma VEGF₁₆₅ levels at any of the four time points, which were compared. The mean levels were between 53–83pgml⁻¹ and 64–83pgml⁻¹ in the OHSS and control group, respectively. Positive correlations existed between total number of follicles, number of large (>15mm) follicles and VEGF₁₆₅ at day of oocyte aspiration and between VEGF₁₆₅ and progesterone at ET in the control group, but not in the OHSS group.

Conclusion(s): Patients developing OHSS do not have raised plasma VEGF₁₆₅ levels during gonadotropin stimulation. The lack of positive correlation between VEGF₁₆₅ levels and follicle numbers/progesterone in the OHSS group, suggests a disruption in OHSS of the normal controlled follicular VEGF expression.

Keywords:  Follicle, IVF, OHSS, Progesterone, VEGF