Abbara A et al. – The study determined the improvement in oocyte maturation by increasing the duration of luteinizing hormone (LH)–exposure with a second dose of kisspeptin–54 in women at a high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). The study demonstrated that oocyte yield in women at high risk of OHSS was increased by second dose of kisspeptin–54 at 10 hours following the first dose.

Methods

• In this phase 2, randomised placebo–controlled trial, 62 women (age 18–34 years) with high risk of OHSS (antral follicle count ≥23 or anti–Mullerian hormone level ≥40 pmol/L) were enrolled.
• Following a controlled ovarian stimulation, all patients received a subcutaneous injection of kisspeptin–54 (9.6 nmol/kg) 36 hours prior to oocyte retrieval.
Thereafter, patients in 1:1 ratio received either a second dose of kisspeptin–54 (D; double, n = 31), or saline (S; single, n = 31) 10 h

Results

• Further LH–secretion at 4 hours after administration of the second dose of kisspeptin–54 at 10 hours was observed.
• An oocyte yield ≥60% was achieved by higher proportion of patients following a second dose of kisspeptin–54 (absolute difference + 26%).
• The variable LH–response following the second kisspeptin–54 dose dependent on the LH–response following the first kisspeptin–54 injection was observed.