Prolactin’s Role in the Occurance of the Ovarian Hyperstimulation Sindrome

Correspondence to: Lavinia Bran. Tel. 0745091202, E-mail: [email protected], The University Clinic of Obstetric Gynecology “Bega” ,Timisoara str. V. Babes nr. 12 jud. Timis SUMMARY: The ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is produced by the exaggerated action of the gonadotropic hormones used for ovulation induction in case of in vitro fertilization, currently being considered an iatrogenic complication of it. The prolactin synthesized in a large quantity could be attached to the gonadotropic receptors and could deactivate them and could determine the OHSS. Furthermore, the cells of the human endometrium and the follicular cells have receptors for the prolactin. We studied 45 female patients and the correlation between the serum level of the prolactin and the ovarian and endometrial response parameters to stimulation: the number of ovarian follicles with a diameter larger than 10 mm occurred after stimulation and their diameter, the number of ovocite samples, and the endometrium thickness respectively. The serum levels of prolactin were not correlated with the parameters of ovarian response to stimulation (p=0,698, 0,278 and 0,611 respectively), but the correlation was significant with the endometrium thickness (p=0,043). The latter correlation becomes extremely significant (p<0,0001) in patients with serum level of prolactin over the normal values. The correlation with the ovarian response parameters was only meant to underline a possible suppression of the ovarian stimulation caused by the prolactin, which must be taken into account in order to obtain the targeted therapeutical results and to avoid the ovarian hyperstimulation.