Risk of gestational hypertension in pregnancies complicated with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: a case control study severe OHSS and gestational hypertension

Objective Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is the most common iatrogenic complication due to ovulation stimulation during assisted reproductive technology. Pathophysiology of this syndrome is not completely clarified, and there is no some specific treatment. Human chorionic gonadotropin is considered as the most significant factor in etiopathogenesis of OHSS. The results of some clinical studies related to influence of OHSS on pregnancy are variable. The aim of this study was to investigate hypertensive disease of pregnancies in patients admitted to hospital due to severe forms of OHSS with reference to maternal characteristics. Methodology A case control study was conducted at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic "Narodni Front" and involved 50 patients admitted to hospital due to severe form of OHSS during a period from January 2008 to March 2015. A control group was created based on age and it involved 59 patients with pregnancy achieved with IVF/ICSI during the same period, but in which OHSS did not occur. For comparing mean values of continuous variables, Independent samples t test was applied. Results Patients with pregnancy complicated by OHSS, had considerably higher rate of hypertension (14% vs. 3.2 %, p=0.046). Conclusions Pregnancies achieved by IVF/ICSI, being complicated with severe OHSS could be related to gestational hypertension.