Calcium infusion for the prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of calcium infusion as a preventive strategy of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in women at high risk in in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment cycles.

DESIGN: Double-blinded randomized controlled trial.

SETTING: University hospital department of obstetrics and gynecology and private IVF center.

PATIENT(S): Two hundred women at risk to develop OHSS undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment cycle.

INTERVENTION(S): The intervention group (group 1; n = 100) received intravenous infusion of 10 mL 10% calcium gluconate in 100 mL 0.9% saline solution on the day of ovum pick-up (OPU) and days 1, 2, and 3 after, and the placebo group (group 2; n = 100) received 100 mL 0.9% saline solution on the day of OPU and days 1, 2, and 3 after.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Incidence of OHSS.

RESULT(S): OHSS incidence was significantly higher in the placebo group (group 2) than in the calcium infusion group (group 1): 23 (23%) vs. 7 (7%); moderate OHSS was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1: 8 (8%) vs. 1 (1%); and severe OHSS was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1: 4 (4%) vs. 0.

CONCLUSION(S): Intravenous calcium infusion effectively reduced the incidence of OHSS development without reduction in the pregnancy rate.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01427335.