Doppler parameters of the ovarian and uterine blood circulation in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

Nine in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients with moderate or severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) were recruited for a longitudinal study. Twenty-four unselected, asymptomatic patients undergoing similar IVF treatment were used as controls. OHSS was diagnosed 8-13 days after oocyte retrieval. All subjects were examined with pulsed color Doppler ultrasound. The pulsatility index (PI) and the maximum peak systolic velocity of the uterine and the intra-ovarian arterial blood flow were measured. There were no significant differences in the mean PI or the maximum peak systolic velocity of the uterine and intra-ovarian arterial blood flow between symptomatic patients and controls during the first examination. At the resolution of symptoms, however, the mean PI of the uterine artery was significantly lower in pregnant patients with OHSS than in pregnant controls (p < 0.01). The development of the OHSS could not be explained by the circulatory conditions observed in the intra-ovarian and uterine arteries.