@article{3082281,
    title = "Administration of methylprednisolone to prevent severe ovarian
hyperstimulation syndrome in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization",
    author = "Lainas, T and Petsas, G and Stavropoulou, G and Alexopoulou, E and and Iliadis, G and Minaretzis, D",
    journal = "Fertility and Sterility",
    year = "2002",
    volume = "78",
    number = "3",
    pages = "529-533",
    publisher = "EXCERPTA MEDICA INC-ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC",
    issn = "0015-0282, 1556-5653",
    doi = "10.1016/S0015-0282(02)03290-9",
    keywords = "ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome; in vitro fertilization;
methylprednisolone; prevention",
    abstract = "Objective: To determine whether administration of methylprednisolone to
high-risk women undergoing IVF/ICSI helps reduce the development of
OHSS.
Design: Retrospective clinical controlled study.
Setting: lVF unit.
Patient(s): One thousand ten women who underwent IVF/ICSI from January
9, 1997, to December 31, 1999. Ninety-one patients who were at high risk
for OHSS were identified by using standard criteria.
Intervention(s): Methylprednisolone, 16 mg/d starting on day 6 of the
stimulation and tapered after the first pregnancy test (day 13 after
embryo transfer).
Main Outcome Measure(s): Occurrence of OHSS.
Result(s): A significantly lower proportion of methylprednisolone
recipients than untreated participants developed OHSS (10.0% vs.
43.9%). Treatment recipients had more oocytes retrieved and more
embryos fertilized than did untreated participants. Methylprednisolone
treatment was equally effective in preventing OHSS in all causes of
infertility and was effective independent of the number of IVF trials
and pregnancy rates.
Conclusion(s): Treatment with methylprednisolone appears to reduce the
risk for OHSS. This treatment thus helps to avoid hospitalization,
reduces cycle cancellations, and improves the cost-effectiveness of IVF
cycles. (C) 2002 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine."
}