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Journal of Ovarian Research logoLink to Journal of Ovarian Research
. 2024 May 9;17:98. doi: 10.1186/s13048-024-01406-3

Ovarian Hyperstimulation syndrome combined with hypothyroidism: a comprehensive review

Jing Zhou 1,#, Yu Chen 1,#, Lijing Bai 1, Wei Zhou 1, Haiyan Yang 1, Yang Chen 1, Li Chen 1, Renjie Lu 2,3, Lingmin Hu 1,✉, Shuxian Wang 1,✉
PMCID: PMC11084021  PMID: 38725001

Abstract

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) is a systemic condition marked by the enlargement of the ovaries and heightened vascular permeability. And hypothyroidism (HT) emerges as a potential risk factor for OHSS occurrence. This review presented a comprehensive summary of pertinent case reports involving patients diagnosed with both HT and OHSS. Detailed exploration was conducted into their clinical presentations, diagnostic methodologies, and treatment modalities. Additionally, the review delved into potential interaction mechanisms between HT and OHSS, encompassing various aspects including hormone levels. Moreover, management strategies for mitigating the risk of OHSS in HT patients were thoroughly reviewed and the importance of monitoring thyroid function in those experiencing OHSS was emphasized. This review indicated that the association between HT and OHSS, underscoring its multifaceted complexity. It could accentuate the ongoing necessity for rigorous research and clinical refinement to deepen our comprehension of this association and to bolster diagnostic and therapeutic methodologies for optimal patient care. In conclusion, this review offered valuable insights for future research directions and clinical practices for patients afflicted with OHSS and HT.

Keywords: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, Hypothyroidism, Case report

Introduction

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) is a systemic disorder characterized by ovarian enlargement and increased vascular permeability [1–3]. In this review, OHSS occurring in patients following controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) with exogenous gonadotropins or a few other drugs is defined as the iatrogenic form of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (iOHSS) [2–4]. Additionally, OHSS that occurs in pregnant women between the eighth and fourteenth weeks of pregnancy is termed as spontaneous ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (sOHSS) [3–5]. Furthermore, some non-pregnant patients may also experience sOHSS. Therefore, sOHSS in this review is defined as OHSS that occurs without the use of any exogenous drugs for COH [6].

The incidence rates of OHSS vary globally. Although OHSS can occur in women with singleton or multiple pregnancies, HT, and pituitary adenomas, with or without pregnancy in very rare cases [7, 8], the overall incidence rate of OHSS accounts for approximately 33% of all cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles worldwide [9]. In China, the incidence rate of moderate and severe OHSS in women of reproductive age was 1.14% [10]. To sum up, the prevalence of OHSS related to assisted reproductive technology (ART) remains relatively high among females of reproductive age, with potential life-threatening risks. Accurately identifying the risk of OHSS, along with implementing effective prevention and targeted treatments, may help reduce its incidence rate in women of reproductive age and prevent its progression into fatal OHSS. Therefore, there is an urgent need for in-depth attention towards the prevention and treatment of OHSS to safeguard women’s reproductive health.

Potential risk factors for OHSS include age less than 30 years old, slender physique, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), supplementation of exogenous or endogenous human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) during the luteal phase, use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) for ovulation triggering, serum high concentration of estradiol(E2) (> 4000 pg/ml), serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentration more than 3.36 ng/ml, antral follicle count (AFC) more than 8, acquisition of a large number of follicles during ovulation triggering, count of follicles with a diameter around 11 mm (range from 8 mm to 12 mm) on the day of ovulation triggering over 14, hyperprolactinemia, oligomenorrhea, anovulatory infertility, HT, and a previous history of OHSS [4, 8, 11–14]. However, research on the association between HT and OHSS is limited. Therefore, this review focuses on OHSS related to HT, providing guidance on future research directions and preventive measures based on existing studies.

HT is defined as a condition characterized by thyroid hormone levels in the serum being below normal [15]. Evidence from a study indicates that HT might be a risk factor for the occurrence of OHSS [16]. The clinical parameters of thyroid function can be used to predict the risk of developing OHSS, such as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab), enabling targeted preventive measures by healthcare professionals [16]. As an essential medical intervention in ART, COH might further increase the risk of OHSS in women with HT [17]. A retrospective study has confirmed that in the population of non-polycystic ovarian syndrome (NPCOS), women with HT that undergo COH have a fivefold increased risk of OHSS compared to those without HT [18]. This is attributed to the potential of COH to further decrease serum FT4 levels and increase serum TSH levels, exacerbating HT [19, 20]. Additionally, some research findings have suggested that elevated serum TSH levels during or after COH might be associated with the excessive use of ovulation-inducing drugs [21]. Through a prospective cohort study, it has been noted that gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRH-α), a type of ovulation-inducing drug, significantly increases serum TSH concentrations [21]. Therefore, women with HT may have a higher risk of OHSS after COH [16].

Currently, there is no definitive conclusion regarding whether COH contributes to structural thyroid abnormalities. In a retrospective study, it was found that women with initially normal thyroid function, regardless of whether OHSS occurred, experienced varying degrees of increased serum TSH levels after COH [22]. However, the elevated state of serum TSH levels caused by COH is not persistent in these patients. Consequently, these women do not ultimately develop subclinical hypothyroidism (SHT) or HT. This may be attributed to notable surge in serum E2 levels after COH, leading to an elevation in serum thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) levels. The increased TBG binding with excess FT4 may result in a transient elevation of serum TSH. However, serum TSH levels gradually decrease as the patients achieve successful pregnancy, which is attributed to the elevated serum HCG levels competitively binding to thyroid-stimulating hormone receptors (TSH-R), increasing serum FT4 levels and lowering serum TSH levels through negative feedback [23, 24]. Conversely, another prospective cohort study confirmed that COH may induce SHT in patients with initially normal thyroid function [21].

Nevertheless, the exact factors contributing to the varied outcomes in the studies are still not clear. Existing studies did not delve into the mechanisms underlying the association between HT and OHSS, nor did they explore the specific roles and mechanisms of COH in the intricate relationship between HT and OHSS. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a review of case reports related to HT combined with OHSS to guide subsequent research on mechanisms.

Review of case reports on OHSS combined with HT

After searching the literatures spanning from January 1, 1980, to January 1, 2024 from the PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, a total of 18 case reports were collected, detailing sOHSS combined with HT in non-pregnant women. Additionally, 13 case reports were identified for pregnant women experiencing sOHSS concomitant with HT. Furthermore, there were 5 case reports related to iOHSS combined with HT in the women undergoing COH.

sOHSS combined with HT in non-pregnant women

Through the analysis of 18 case reports involving non-pregnant women with HT and OHSS [6, 8, 25–40], it was observed that the average age of the patients involved in these case reports was 19 years old (M ± SD: 19.08 ± 4.32). All patients exhibited elevated serum TSH levels, reduced serum FT4 concentrations, and normal to low serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. Their clinical manifestations were similar, characterized by ascites and bilateral massive ovarian cysts. Following conservative treatment, involving levothyroxine (LT4) replacement therapy at a dose ranging from 0.05 to 0.2 mg per day, their ovarian sizes normalized within 1 to 6 months. Some more information about these reports can be seen in Table 1.

Table 1.

Case reports of sOHSS combined with HT in non-pregnant women

No Age TSH FT4 ATPO T3RU FT3 LH FSH E2 Others Ultrasonography Report (bilateral ovarian size) Treatment The duration of returning to normal
Rotmensch and Scommegna [25] 21 >25μU/ ml 0.5 μg /dL – 21.4 6.2 mIU/ml 19.2 mIU /ml 1303 pg/ml Cholesterol 243 mg/dL maximum diameter: 10 cm and 13.8 cm； LT4 replacement treatment 4 weeks
Van Voorhis, Neff [35] 26 > 50 IU/L – – – – 0.7 IU/L 15.7 IU/L 80 pg/mL – – LT4 replacement treatment 3 months
Chen, Chen [28] 20 190.42uIU/ml 0.15 ng/dL – 29.8 ng/dL 7.2 mIU/ml 18.4 mIU /ml 1100 pg/ml –

8.1 × 4.7 cm;

7.4 × 6.1 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 2.5 months
Taher, Ghariabeh [29] 22 > 100 mU/L < 5 pmol/L – – – 12.6 IU/L 9.8 IU/L 150.9 pmol/l CA125 93 U/ml

9 × 12 cm;

6 × 4 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 1 year
Guvenal, Guvenal [34] 28 100,000mIU/ ml 0.01 ng/dl – – 0.84 pg/ml – – – CA125 53.3 U/ml

8.2 × 7.5× 5 cm;

7.5 × 6.5 × 4.0 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 3 months
Hedayati Emami, Molaei Langroudi [26] 15 > 100 mIU/L Low 290 U/ml 31.2 – – – – Cholesterol 290 mg/dL

15 × 7.5 cm;

13 × 7 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 4 months
14.5 72.5 mIU/L Low 439 IU/ml 25.9 – – – – –

11 × 6.5 cm;

11.8 × 5.8 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 3 months
Langroudi, Amlashi [27] 15 > 100 mIU/l Low 290 U/ml 31.2% – – – – Cholesterol 290 mg/dl

15 × 7.5 × 6.2 cm;

13 × 7 × 6.8 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 4 months
Kanza, Gagnon [6] 19 > 100 mU/L Low – – – – Normal 6000 pmol/l CA125 87 kU/L

10 × 6 × 10 cm;

9 × 8 × 8 cm.

 LT4 replacement treatment 4 months
Katulande, Kariyawasam [36] 23 >100mIU/l Low – – – 1.0 IU/l 6.1 IU/l 4095 μg/l – maximum diameter: 10 cm LT4 replacement treatment 4 months
Erol, Erol [37] 18a 100 lU/mL 4.5 pmol/L – – – 9.2 IU/L 6.5 IU/L 4.000 mIU/mL – Enlarged LT4 replacement treatment 4 months
18a 20 lU/mL 15 pmol/L – – – – – 10.000 mIU/mL – Enlarged LT4 replacement treatment 6 months
Singh, Singh [38] 18 102 μlU/ml Low – – Low – – – –

15.22 × 8.26 cm;

11.82 × 6.24 cm.

 LT4 replacement treatment 4 months
Ilanchezhian, Mohan [33] 25 >150mIU/ ml Low – – – Low 12.84 mIU /ml 848.93 pg/ ml – 7 × 8.7 × 10.7 cm；7.3 × 10.3 × 10.2 cm LT4 replacement treatment 1.5 months
Putta, John [31] 15 750mIU/ ml Low – – – – – – CA125 98 U/l Enlarged LT4 replacement treatment 3 months
Rajaram, Bhaskaran [32] 19 >150mIU/ l – 173.8 U – – – – – –

9.5 × 8 cm;

11 × 8 cm

LT4 replacement treatment;

surgery

 6 months
Kim, Yoon [39] 14 > 1000 μU/mL Low – – – – 7.31 mIU/mL – CA125 25.87 U/mL

8.9 × 4.6 cm;

5.9 × 8.2 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 6 months
Patel and Nath [40] 22 30.45μlU/ml – 56.97 IU/ml – – Low Low 8.87 pg/ ml – Volume:59.6 ~ 111.81 cm3，Diameter: 1.4 ~ 20 cm LT4 replacement treatment 4 months
Pail, Bagri [8] 17 486μIU/ ml Low – – – – – – –

12 × 19 × 13 cm

10 × 14 × 11 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 3 months
Kaluarachchi, Casather [30] 12 >100mIU/L Low (+) – – – – – CA125 387 U/mL

11 × 10.8 cm;

9.5 × 8 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 3 months
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arepresents the same person

Along with elevated serum E2 levels, the reason for a patient with HT and sOHSS might be that E2 tend to convert into higher active estriol (E3) under higher serum E2 concentration, leading to increased release of FSH and sOHSS in one case report [25]. Additionally, this case report has shown that the patient with HT and sOHSS had elevated serum total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol has been shown to enhance steroid synthesis in human granulosa cells in vitro [25], which could also be seen in other case reports [26, 27]. Therefore, it is speculated that the elevated total cholesterol levels might also play a role in the development of OHSS combined with HT [25]. However, patients combined with sOHSS and HT may be also characteristic of non-elevated serum FSH levels and elevated serum E2 concentrations [28]. Elevated serum E2 concentrations were found to stimulate increased release of TSH, subsequently activating follicle stimulating hormone receptors (FSH-R) and leading to OHSS [29]. Additionally, despite the presence of hyperprolactinemia in the patient, normalization of serum prolactin levels was observed following LT4 replacement therapy. Consequently, considering the restorability of endocrine function, excessive pharmacological or surgical interventions may be unnecessary. Furthermore, OHSS and hyperprolactinemia may constitute notable features of HT [28].

In some other case reports, elevated serum CA125 levels may be another characteristic of patients combined with OHSS and HT, which is similar to ovarian cancer [6, 29–31]. After initiating exploratory treatment with LT4 replacement therapy, various symptoms have been improved, which prevented misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment for ovarian cancer [29]. Therefore, the indispensability of evaluating thyroid function parameters should be emphasized when encountering cases of OHSS, which will help prevent inappropriate surgical interventions.

Furthermore, some patients combine with OHSS and HT may be diagnosed with autoimmune thyroid disease. A distinctive feature of this disease is the presence of autoantibodies against thyroid antigens within the patients. Antibodies against the TSH-R predominantly target the α-subunit of the TSH-R (with activating or inhibitory effects). And both TSH-R and FSH-R share a common α-subunit. Therefore, elevated serum TPOAb levels may interact with the FSH-R, leading to the occurrence of OHSS [41].

Based on existing case reports, while the majority of the patients were treated with LT4 conservatively, there were also a small number of cases that underwent surgical intervention [32]. In one case report, even with a daily dose of 0.1 mg LT4, symptoms of the patient were not well controlled. Consequently, surgical removal of some cysts and oral intake of LT4 were initiated. Six months later, the ovarian size of this patient returned to normal [32]. Therefore, conservative LT4 replacement therapy may not be universally effective for HT combined with OHSS. In cases where conservative LT4 replacement therapy proves ineffective, timely surgical cyst removal combined with pharmacological intervention may be necessary [32].

sOHSS combined with HT in naturally pregnant women

Through the analysis of 13 case reports on HT combined with OHSS in naturally pregnant women [42–54], it has been found that the average age of these patients was 26 years (M ± SD: 26 ± 4.26). Most pregnant women experienced OHSS between the 9th and the 14th weeks of pregnancy. The clinical changes in serum TSH, FT4, LH, and FSH levels in this group were similar to those in non-pregnant women. While the treatment for most pregnant women was similar to that of non-pregnant women, it was evident that the treatment plans for pregnant women, as a special group, were more personalized. Physicians adjusted the dosage of orally administered LT4 based on the gestational week. The time for the normalization of ovarian size varied among them; for some pregnant women, ovarian size could return to normal during pregnancy, while for others, it might only normalize after childbirth. Some more information about these reports can be seen in Table 2.

Table 2.

Case reports of sOHSS combined with HT in naturally pregnant women

No Age Pregnancy TSH FT4 FT3 LH FSH β-hCG E2 pg/ml CA125 Ultrasonography Report (bilateral ovarian size) Treatment The duration of returning to normal Successful delivery gestational weeks
Nappi, Di Naro [44] 34 12w > 350 μU/ml Low Low 0.5 mIU/ml 0.6 mIU/ml 12,8461 mIU/ml 9150 –

Diameter:13 cm,

Diameter: 11 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 2 weeks 38 weeks
Cardoso, Graça [45] 25 12w 210 mIU/mL 0.2 ng/dL 1.3 pg/mL – – 15,890 mIU/mL – 74.5 U/mL

16 × 15 cm;

16 × 13 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 24 weeks gestation 28 weeks
Borna and Nasery [47] 30 20w >400μU/mL 0.4 ng/dL 1.1 pg/mL – – – – 39 U/mL

20 × 16 cm;

16 × 10 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 10 weeks after delivery 38 weeks
Edwards-Silva, Han [42] 30 10w 41.7 mU/L – – – – 291,206 mIU/mL – 901 U/mL

10 × 14 × 7 cm;

10 × 12 × 8 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment – 34 weeks
Lussiana, Guani [46] 29 22w 5.92 mU/l Normal Normal Normal Normal High High –

20 × 11 cm;

16 × 12 cm

 – 3 weeks after abortion abortion
Akbay, Uzunçakmak [48] 21 10wa 8.75 IU/mL – – – – High – 146.8 IU/ml 13 × 8 cm LT4 replacement treatment 3 weeks after delivery –
23 12wa 2.16 IU/mL – – – – High – 289 IU/ml

1.3 × 7 cm;

11 × 7 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 6 weeks after delivery 38 weeks
Dieterich, Bolz [43] 26b 12w 3.73mIU/l 13.9 pmol/l 4.8 pmol/l – – 118,665 IU/l – – –

Diuresis;

Fluid drainage

 – Termination of pregnancy (15 weeks)
26b 10w 5.51mIU/l 15.3 pmol/l 3.8 pmol/l – – 147,688 IU/l – –

6 × 7 cm;

5 × 7 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 18 weeks gestation 39 weeks
Delabaere, Tran [49] 23 12w High Low Normal Normal Normal Match – –

17 × 10.2 cm;

14.2 × 7 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 3 months 39 weeks
Sridev and Barathan [50] 22 9w 150 μIU/ml – – – – 181,264.20mIU/ml –

10 × 8 cm;

8 × 6 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 20 weeks gestation 39 weeks
SEETHAPATHY [51] 20 14w 222mIU/ml 0.07 ng/dl < 0.26 g/ml – – 1,36,776 mIU/ml – –

15 × 9 × 13 cm;

12 × 8 × 14.6 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 4 months after abortion Abortion
Oliveira, Innecco Arêas [52] 32 13w 100 mU/L 0.25 ng/dl – – – – – 125 56 U/ml

9.3 × 6.3 × 5.9 cm;

10.6 × 10.0 × 7.1 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 8 months after delivery 37 weeks
Alzebidi, Almushri [53] 27 10w 123mIU/ml Low – < 3 IU/l 11.92mIU/ml 23150mIU/ml 758.93 11 IU/ml

10 × 9.7 × 11.7 cm;

7.5 × 10.5 × 10.3 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 3 months after delivery –
Guerra, Marado [54] 22 9w 515 IU/mL 0 – – – – – 1045 U/mL

15 × 14 × 16.6;

15× 8.2 × 18.3 cm

 LT4 replacement treatment 3 months after abortion Termination of pregnancy (10 weeks)
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a,brepresents the same person

Similar to non-pregnant women combined with HT and OHSS, a pregnant woman combined with them could also be characteristic of higher serum CA125 concentration, exhibiting a severe risk of thrombosis [42]. Considering that CA125 can promote thrombus formation by increasing leukocyte and platelet activity [55], it is speculated that a sharp elevation in CA125 levels in pregnant women with HT and OHSS may give rise to concerns about an increased risk of thrombosis. In addition, a mutation in the FSH-R can also cause the occurrence of OHSS and HT. In a case report, a pregnant woman experienced sOHSS combined with HT, resulting from a mutation in the FSH-R (FSH-R D567N) and causing hypersensitivity to HCG and elevated androgen levels [43].

Considering the elevated estrogen levels in the pregnant woman, it was proposed that altered estrogen metabolism might result in inadequate pituitary feedback, leading to increased release of TSH [44]. Excessive TSH levels in ovarian tissue could induce severe cystic reactions in the ovaries, with fluid shifting to the third space, giving rise to OHSS. However, not all pregnant women would successfully deliver at full term after LT4 replacement therapy. One patient delivered prematurely at 28 weeks of gestation after treatment, giving birth to a single fetus [45]. Luckily, due to the premature initiation of LT4 replacement intervention, the newborn demonstrated normal development at the age of 2 [45]. Other patients with mutation in FSH-R could not achieve the control of this disease until terminating the pregnancy [43, 46]. Therefore, unlike sOHSS caused by mutated FSH-R, HT combined with sOHSS can be effectively intervened with LT4 replacement therapy. Early initiation of LT4 replacement therapy seems necessary for pregnant women with HT combined with OHSS.

iOHSS combined with HT in women

There are fewer case reports related to the women undergoing COH, with five case reports suggesting an average age of 32 years old (M ± SD: 32 ± 4.3) in this group. Most patients undergoing COH experienced OHSS within 1 to 14 days after the procedure, including COH or fresh embryo transfer. All patients showed an increase in serum TSH levels and a decrease in serum FT4 levels. Their clinical symptoms were similar to those described in the aforementioned cases. Analyzing these five case reports, it can be observed that the risk of developing OHSS is higher in the women undergoing COH by exogenous hormones. Therefore, their conservative treatment plans are the most personalized. The personalized drug intervention often begins before COH. Some more information about these reports can be seen in Table 3.

Table 3.

Case reports of iOHSS combined with HT

No Age Pregnancy Embryo transfer Protocol of COH TSH FT4 FT3 E2 β-hCG Ultrasonography Report (bilateral ovarian size) Treatment The duration of returning to normal Successful delivery gestational weeks
Poppe, Glinoer [22] 37 Yes Fresh embryo transfer Antagonis Protocol 41.5mIU/L 7.7 ng/L – 5.549 ng/L 360 IU/L Diameter: 10 cm LT4 replacement treatment 44 days –
Ghianda, Loconte [56] 28 No Fresh embryo transfer – 61.3μU/mL 4.8 pg/ mL 2.54 pg/mL 2651 pg/ml (−) – Cease COH 1 month –
Skweres, Wójcik [57] 34 Yes Fresh embryo transfer Classic long protocol. 5.127 mU/L 19.33 pmol/l 4.22 pmol/L – – – LT4 replacement treatment 20 weeks gestation 37 weeks
Galvao, Lourenço [58] 27 Yes Fresh embryo transfer Antagonis Protocol 28.50μUI/mL – – 2854.0 pg/mL – Enlarged LT4 replacement treatment Fluid drainage – 38 weeks
Sen, Yong [9] 34 Yes Fresh embryo transfer Antagonis Protocol 3.84μUI/mL 13.1 pmol/l – – 412 IU/L 10.8 × 8.0 × 7.2 cm; 9.5 × 6.2 × 6.0 cm LT4 replacement treatment – –
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In these cases, the patients themselves had varying degrees of hypothyroidism. Therefore, it is necessary to use LT4 replacement therapy in advance to prevent the occurrence of HT combined with iOHSS. In one case report, although a patient with autoimmune hypothyroidism regularly took a daily dose of 0.125 mg LT4 before undergoing COH, maintaining normal serum TSH levels, she still developed OHSS after COH with an antagonist protocol [22]. In cases of autoimmune hypothyroidism or HT, using a standard dose of LT4 to maintain normal TSH levels may not effectively prevent OHSS. Even in individuals with normal TSH levels before COH, abnormal elevation of TSH and OHSS may still occur. Therefore, personalized adjustments to the dosage of LT4 are recommended for women planning to accept COH. It is advised to control the serum TSH levels of women with HT within the range of 0.27 to 2.5 mIU/L by adjusting the dosage of LT4 [22].

This preventive drug intervention may increase the pregnancy rate of these patients [59]. One patient with SHT underwent COH under the classic long protocol. She received daily dose of 0.375 mg LT4 before surgery to keep serum TSH levels below 2.5 mIU/L and daily dose of 0.05 mg LT4 from the first day of COH. Although she still developed severe OHSS on the 8th day after embryo transfer (ET), she successfully delivered with stable thyroid function by adjusting the dosage of LT4 [57]. This may be attributed to her personalized preventive LT4 replacement therapy. Another patient, with unknown subclinical autoimmune hypothyroidism, did not receive preventive LT4 replacement therapy. She developed HT and iOHSS after taking medications related to COH for 6 days to 2 weeks and failed to conceive. Considering that patients with pre-existing STH may experience worsening of their condition during or after COH and during pregnancy [60], it is particularly important to identify patients with STH early before taking medications related to COH and implement appropriate preventive measures.

In summary, patients with HT may experience iOHSS within 1 to14 days after ET. The 5 patients collected in this review who underwent COH all had thyroid disorders. For this group of patients, it is recommended to adjust dosage of LT4 before initiating COH to reduce the risk of hypothyroidism-related OHSS and other complications, as well as adverse pregnancy outcomes. Additionally, monitoring of serum TSH levels in these women should be carried out from before COH until during pregnancy. However, with only 5 reported cases, specific preventive measures and treatment options cannot be conclusively determined.

The pathogenesis of HT combined with OHSS

In the context of HT, the exact mechanisms underlying the occurrence of OHSS are not yet clear. Various studies have proposed the following different mechanisms: (1) Regardless of whether the FSH-R is mutated, TSH exhibits weak FSH activity, which can activate the FSH-R [61, 62]; (2) Patients with HT are more inclined to produce E3, and E3 has a weaker inhibitory effect on the release of gonadotropins hormone (GnH) compared to E2, leading to excessive release of gonadotropins [6, 62]; (3) Patients with HT are prone to produce more TSH, leading to activation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors [31, 62]; (4) Elevated serum E2 levels can increase serum TBG levels; high levels of TBG bind more FT4, resulting in decreased serum FT4 and increased serum TSH levels [63]. (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

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The types, population, characteristic and mechanisms of OHSS and HT. →:promoting; —|:inhibiting; ①:TSH exhibits weak FSH activity, which can activate the FSH-R; ②Patients with HT are more inclined to produce E3, and E3 has a weaker inhibitory effect on the release of gonadotropins compared to E2, leading to excessive release of gonadotropins; ③Elevated serum E2 levels can increase serum TBG levels; high levels of TBG bind more FT4, resulting in decreased serum FT4 and increased serum TSH levels

The FSH-R belongs to the G protein-coupled receptor family, which also includes luteinizing hormone receptor (LH-R), human chorionic gonadotropin receptor (HCG-R), and TSH-R. FSH, LH, TSH, and HCG are four hormones with similar structures [8]. They consist of two subunits, where the α subunit is common to all molecules, and the β subunit is unique to each molecule [64]. Under normal circumstances, HCG and LH bind to the LH-R, while FSH and TSH bind separately to the FSH-R and TSH-R [8, 11, 33, 65]. However, in patients with HT, low thyroid hormone levels may negatively feedback to increase the release of TSH, FSH, and LH [29, 66]. Due to the homology between the THS-R and the FSH-R, elevated serum TSH levels can cross-react with the FSH-R, leading to the occurrence of OHSS [34]. Elevated serum TSH levels may also stimulate the expression of wild-type FSH-R on the follicles. The research has shown that under conditions simulating high concentrations of TSH, TSH can activate the FSH-R and bind to it [67]. Extremely high levels of TSH binding to FSH-R lead to follicular cell activation. In bioassays, recombinant human TSH has been found to bind to FSH-R and result in a dose-dependent increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels [68]. TSH exerts its effects through the TSHR/cAMP/protein kinase A pathway. TSH-R can be observed on the surface epithelium, primordial, primary, and secondary oocytes of the ovary [69]. One study has confirmed that there was a significant increase in cAMP concentration after 2 hours of TSH stimulation in cultured ovarian granulosa cells [70]. Elevated cAMP levels could induce granulosa cell apoptosis, which would activate PKA and then induced PI3K phosphorylation by inactivating GAP2 in granulosa cells [71]. In addition, six heterozygous activating mutations of FSH-R have been described currently. The common feature of these six mutations is their reduced specificity for FSH and responsiveness to increases in hCG or TSH concentrations. They are all located in the transmembrane, extracellular FSH-R domains and FSH-R cytoplasmic tail, associated with reduced FSH specificity [72, 73]. Mutant FSH-R might directly inhibit PI3K activation, or at least inhibit PI3K activation in the absence of cAMP involvement. PI3K is involved in granulosa cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and enhanced mRNA translation [74].

Another possible explanation for the coexistence of HT and sOHSS may be that there is an increased activity in the 16-hydroxylation pathway in patients with HT, making it easier for E2 to generate higher-activity E3 through the 16-hydroxylation pathway instead of the normal 2-hydroxylation pathway generating lower-activity E3 [25, 75]. Additionally, E3 has a weaker inhibitory effect on gonadotropin release compared to E2. Therefore, the excess of higher-activity E3 and the reduced amount of E2 alleviate the negative feedback regulation of gonadotropin release, leading to excessive release of gonadotropins and the occurrence of OHSS [8, 45].

In addition, as a commonly used medication for inducing ovulation, clomiphene citrate leads to a rise in FSH concentration of about 50% with a subsequent rise in E2 production, some influence—a temporary lowering of fT4 concentration—on thyroid hormone levels is to be expected [59]. Patients undergoing COH experience a significant increase in serum E2 levels, leading to an elevation in serum TBG concentration, which may result in a decrease in serum FT4 levels and an increase in serum TSH levels [56]. The elevated levels of TSH can cross-react with FSH-R, leading to the development of delayed OHSS. In patients with PCOS, who already have elevated serum E2 levels, facing COH causes the excessively high concentration of serum E2 to rapidly stimulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis to produce thyroid hormones. However, the inability to rapidly produce thyroid hormones in patients with HT and PCOS, coupled with the accumulated high concentration of TSH, leads to the development of OHSS [58]. Additionally, HT may increase the risk of patients undergoing COH developing OHSS [9]. Furthermore, the activation of the cytokine signaling inhibitor and the dysregulation of IL-2 expression caused by high concentration of serum HCG are generally considered to be the causes of OHSS [76].

Conclusion

In summary, current research on HT combined with OHSS mainly relies on case reports. Although the specific reasons for the occurrence of OHSS combined with HT vary in each case report, the typical characteristics of OHSS combined with HT mainly manifest as elevated serum TSH levels and bilateral ovarian enlargement observed in ultrasound examinations. In more severe cases, patients may also experience recurrent accumulation of ascites or pleural effusion. It is worth noting that despite slight variations in diagnostic criteria globally, the measurement of serum TSH levels and ultrasound examinations are essential means for confirming the diagnosis of this disease.

Although the diagnosis of this disease is relatively straightforward, its progression is rapid, requiring prompt and effective preventive measures. However, due to the current lack of clarity regarding the pathogenesis of the disease, it is not yet possible to predict its occurrence and development in advance. It is also challenging to fundamentally halt its progression. Despite isolated cases resorting to surgical intervention, the primary therapeutic approach currently revolves around pharmacological interventions targeting the most downstream part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, involving personalized replacement therapy with oral LT4.

This study provides in-depth insights into several aspects. Firstly, considering that HT combined with OHSS is a clinical condition causing endocrine disruption, its study is crucial for optimizing patient management. The combination of HT and OHSS may lead to more complex clinical symptoms and have adverse effects on reproductive health and overall metabolism. One of the primary challenges is distinguishing HT combined with OHSS from ovarian malignancies. While both conditions may exhibit elevated serum CA125 levels and enlarged ovaries on both sides, there are significant differences in subsequent treatment approaches for these two diseases. Conscious efforts by physicians to differentiate between two diseases are essential to avoid unnecessary surgeries.

Moreover, with the ongoing advancement of ART, the number of patients planning to undergo COH is gradually increasing. Although some cases argue that routine thyroid function testing is unnecessary before COH, this review, in conjunction with several existing case reports, suggests that early thyroid function testing is necessary for infertility patients planning to accept COH. Particularly for patients with HT, a more cautious approach to personalized drug intervention is required to prevent the occurrence of OHSS or delay the progression of the disease. This can help avoid serious and life-threatening consequences associated with HT combined with OHSS. In summary, this review deepens physicians’ understanding of HT combined with OHSS, assisting in clarifying the diagnosis and treatment strategies, and improving the clinical management quality for patients with HT combined with OHSS, which holds academic and clinical value.

However, as mentioned before, the pathogenesis of this disease has not been clearly elucidated to date. Therefore, substantial progress has yet to be made in early prevention and precision medicine for this condition. Currently, there is a lack of clinical prediction models or molecular targeted markers available for predicting the risk of developing HT combined with OHSS. In the future, it may be necessary to conduct in-depth studies with large samples to develop clinical prediction models for the risk of HT combined with OHSS and explore the corresponding molecular biology mechanisms. This could prompt physicians to implement diverse, precise, and effective clinical treatment strategies for patients with HT combined with OHSS, thereby improving their quality of life and reproductive health.

Acknowledgements

Not applicable.

Abbreviations

AFC

Antral follicle count

ART

Assisted reproductive technology

COH

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation

E2

Estradiol

E3

Estriol

ET

Embryo transfer

FSH

Follicle stimulating hormone

FSH-R

Follicle stimulating hormone receptors

FT4

Free thyroxine

GnH

Gonadotropins hormone

GnRH

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone

GnRH-α

Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue

HCG

Human chorionic gonadotropin

HCG-R

Human chorionic gonadotropin receptors

HT

Hypothyroidism

iOHSS

Iatrogenic form of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

IVF

In vitro fertilization

LH

Luteinizing hormone

LH-R

Luteinizing hormone receptors

LT4

Levothyroxine

OHSS

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

PCOS

Polycystic ovarian syndrome

SHT

Subclinical hypothyroidism

TBG

Thyroxine-binding globulin

TPOAb

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies

TSH

Thyroid-stimulating hormone

TSH-R

Thyroid-stimulating hormone receptors

Authors’ contributions

Jing Zhou: Conceptualization, Writing-Original Draft; Yu Chen: Conceptualization, Writing-Original Draft. Lijing Bai: Writing -Review & Editing, Wei Zhou: Writing -Review & Editing, Haiyan Yang: Writing -Review & Editing, Yang Chen: Writing -Review & Editing, Li Chen: Writing -Review & Editing, Renjie Lu: Writing -Review & Editing, Funding acquisition, Supervision. Lingmin Hu: Conceptualization, Writing -Review & Editing, Funding acquisition, Supervision. Shuxian Wang: Conceptualization, Writing -Review & Editing, Supervision.

Funding

This research was supported by National Key R&D Program “Fertility Health and Health Security for Women and Children”: Clinical Cohort and Intervention Study on Genetic Problems in Assisted Reproduction Offspring [2021YFC2700602], and Open Research Fund Program of Changzhou Institute for Advanced Study of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University [CPHS202303], Jiangsu maternal and child health research project [F202052], and the open project of biological resources sample bank of major diseases in Jiangsu province in 2020 [SBK202007002], Top Talent of Changzhou “The 14th Five-Year Plan” High-Level Health Talents Training Project [2022CZBJ084], Hospital Management innovation research project of Jiangsu Hospital Association in 2023 [JSYGY-3-2023-247], Project of Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University [CMCB202205], Leading innovative talents Training Project of Changzhou [CQ20220081], and Science and Technology Major Project of Changzhou Municipal Health Commission [ZD202323].

Availability of data and materials

No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

Declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Footnotes

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Jing Zhou and Yu Chen contributed to the work equally and should be regarded as co-first authors.

Contributor Information

Lingmin Hu, Email: hulingmin1986@126.com.

Shuxian Wang, Email: wsxnju95@163.com.

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Associated Data

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

Data Availability Statement

No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

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