Objective: To validate whether abnormally rising human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels, in the presence of the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), may serve to diagnose abnormal gestation.
Study design: In an observational, case-control study, the rates of hCG rise after treatment with gonadotropins or assisted reproductive technologies were compared. Cases consisted of 9 women with OHSS. Controls (121 subjects) were matched except that they did not have OHSS. The significance of differences in the slope of the hCG rise was determined by t testing.
Results: The average doubling time for hCG was 50.4 hours for cases and 38.0 for controls. The slopes of the hCG rise between the groups differed significantly (P = .0015). Pregnancy outcomes were normal for all patients.
Conclusion: Abnormally rising hCG levels do not predict poor outcome in pregnancies complicated by OHSS and therefore are not helpful in the decision-making process to diagnose ectopic or otherwise compromised pregnancies.