Hematocrit as a simple method to predict and manage ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in assisted reproduction

The aim was to analyze the hematocrit levels in cases of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), syndrome occurring during in-vitro fertilization (IVF), and study its role as a prognostic indicator.

Two years data of 66 women at high risk for developing OHSS was analyzed. Twenty-seven women who developed OHSS were further analyzed based on their hematocrit levels on the day of oocyte pick-up (OPU) and the day of embryo transfer (ET) to see if there was a prognostic trend.

Of the total 225 IVF cases, 66 were deemed high risk for developing OHSS. Twenty-seven of these developed OHSS (40.9%). Of these 27, 21 (77.8%) had a hematocrit >35% on the day of OPU. The mean hematocrit in women developing OHSS on the day of OPU was 37.39% (standard deviation [SD] 2.66) as against 35.97% (2.80) in those not developing OHSS. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.043). On the day of ET, 23/27 (85.8%) who developed OHSS had a hematocrit of >35%. The mean hematocrit was 39.29% (SD 3.85) in those who developed OHSS as against 34.7% (2.88) in those who did not. This difference (4.85) was statistically significant (P < 0.001).

Women undergoing IVF were at a higher risk of developing OHSS when their hematocrit on the day of OPU and ET was >35%. Those who required cancellation of ET had a hematocrit of >35% on the day of ET or showed a significant increase of 3% from OPU to ET.