[Preliminary study on the role of vascular endothelial growth factor in pathogenesis of ovarian hyperstimulation...

To explore the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).

Fourteen moderate or severe OHSS patients and 13 non-OHSS cases were enrolled prospectively from in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection program. The VEGF levels of follicular fluid (FF) on the day of oocytes pick up (DOPU) and of sera on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) injection (DhCGI) and embryo transfer (DET) were measured by enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay. Expression of VEGF protein and mRNA of luteinized granulosa cells obtained during OPU were detected by immunohistochemical and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction respectively.

The VEGF levels of FF on the DOPU and of sera on DhCGI were not significantly different between the OHSS and control groups [1257.2 +/- 648.0) ng/L Vs (1745.1 +/- 802.4) ng/L and (250.1 +/- 109.5) ng/L Vs (196.7 +/- 81.7) ng/L, respectively, P > 0.05]. However, both serum VEGF levels on DET and its increments from DhCGI to DET are significantly greater in the OHSS group as compared with the controls, so was the expression of VEGF mRNA levels of luteinized granulosa cells on DOPU.

VEGF may play a role in pathogenesis of OHSS.