Plasma immunoglobulins in patients with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

Objective: To assess immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations in plasma and ascitic fluid of patients with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Design: Controlled clinical study. Setting: Tertiary medical center. Patient(s): Ten patients With severe OHSS after ovulation induction for IVF and 10 controls who had undergone similar ovulation induction and did not develop OI-ISS. Intervention(s): Three blood samples were obtained from each OHSS patient: one at the time of hospitalization for severe OHSS, one when significant clinical improvement was evident and one at the first follow-up visit after discharge from the hospital. Blood samples were drawn from control patients 6-8 days after ET. Ascitic fluid was obtained from all patients with OHSS by therapeutic paracentesis. Main Outcome Measure(s): Immunoglobulin concentrations were assayed by radial immunodiffusion. Result(s): Significantly lower levels of gamma-globulins, specifically IgG and IgA, were detected in the plasma of patients with seven OHSS, whereas alpha- and beta-globulin levels as well as IgM levels were not significantly different from those in controls. Both IgG and IgA levels increased as patients clinically improved. Ascitic fluid contained high IgG, moderate IgA, and negligible IgM levels. Conclusion: Severe OHSS is characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia, attributed to leakage of medium-molecular-weight immunoglobulins such as IgG and IgA to the peritoneal cavity. (C) 1998 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.