Bilateral internal jugular venous thrombosis complicating severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome after prophylactic albumin administration

Objective: To report a case of bilateral thrombosis of the internal jugular veins in a patient after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and IVF. Design: Case report. Setting: University-based IVF program. Intervention(s): Ovulation induction with gonadotropins, IVF-ET, albumin administration, and therapeutic heparinization. Main Outcome Measure(s): Doppler ultrasound of neck veins. Result(s): Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and bilateral thrombosis of the internal jugular veins occurred despite prophylactic administration of albumin. This was treated successfully with therapeutic heparinization. Conclusion(s): Internal jugular venous thrombosis, a rare complication of ovulation induction with gonadotropins, should be considered in patients with neck pain and swelling. (C) 1997 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.