Cabergoline vs intravenous albumin or combination of both for prevention of the early onset ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

Background: Prophylactic use of dopamine agonist has been associated with a decrease in the severity of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Objective: To compare cabergoline with cabergoline plus I.V albumin or I.V albumin alone in prevention of the early onset form of OHSS. Materials and methods: Fifty women at risk of OHSS during IVF/ICSI cycles, having at least 20 follicles in both ovaries and a serum estradiol level ⩾3000pg/ml were selected and divided into three groups. Group I included 15 women started cabergoline (0.25mg/day for 2–3day then increased to 0.5mg/day for 8days from day of hCG), group II; 15 women were given cabergoline as above plus I.V infusion of 200ml human albumin 25% at starting of the oocytes retrieval and group III; 20 women were given I.V albumin as above. Results: No women progressed to severe OHSS in group I and II while 2 (10%) women developed severe form in group III. Right mean ovarian diameters were less in group I and II than group III (8.0±1.5 vs 8.1±1.3 vs 9.3±1.2, respectively) P=0.01. As well as, left mean ovarian diameter (7.9±1.2 vs 8.0±1.1 vs 9.0±1.3, respectively) P=0.01. Conclusion: Cabergoline alone seems to be effective as cabergoline plus I.V albumin in the prevention of severe early onset form of OHSS in high-risk patients