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News release: Colorado - Denver/BoulderMarch 1, 2002 For more information, call: Study reveals in vitro fertilization risk Denver, CO – Women who conceive multiple births as a result of in vitro fertilization (IVF) are at higher risk for preeclampsia — a serious spike in blood pressure toward the end of pregnancy. This is the finding of a study published this week in Obstetrics and Gynecology, the official journal of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The study was led by Anne Lynch, MD, MSPH, a Kaiser Permanente researcher. "This is important information for women who are considering IVF," Dr. Lynch said. "Mothers who receive IVF and their prenatal health care providers need to be aware of this risk. These mothers need to be monitored carefully throughout their pregnancies." Almost 20 percent of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States are the result of preeclampsia, or the more serious eclampsia. Compared with singletons, mothers of multiples are at least twice as likely to experience preeclampsia during pregnancy. This new study shows that mothers who receive IVF have a risk of preeclampsia that is two times higher than mothers who conceived multiples without fertility assistance. Dr. Lynch studied multiple births among 528 Kaiser Permanente Colorado members from 1994 to 2000. She noted that in keeping with Kaiser Permanente practice guidelines, all mothers of multiple gestations were referred to perinatologists for close monitoring during pregnancy. Bob McDuffie, MD, a Kaiser Permanente perinatologist and coauthor of the study, said mothers can be confined to bed rest or hospitalized if preeclampsia appears to be a problem. "This is a serious complication, not only for the mother but also for the baby," Dr. Lynch said. She also said further study will be needed to determine why the incidence of preeclampsia is higher among women who conceive multiple gestations following IVF. Possible contributory factors are the IVF procedure or drugs used in association with the procedure. The factors that cause the women to be infertile may have something to do with their disposition toward high blood pressure. Because the mothers tend to be older, they may be developing chronic illnesses that contribute to high blood pressure. Co-investigators were Ken Faber, MD, a Kaiser Permanente reproductive endocrinologist, James Murphy, PhD, of the National Jewish Medical and Research Center, and Miriam Orleans, PhD, of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. The study was supported by a grant from the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality.
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