The Role of Embryonic Origin in Preeclampsia: A Comparison of Autologous In Vitro Fertilization and Ovum Donor Pregnancies

To compare the risk of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia in pregnancies conceived through standard in vitro fertilization (IVF) using autologous oocytes with pregnancies conceived using donated oocytes. We conducted a retrospective, matched cohort study of women undergoing IVF using autologous compared with donor oocytes between 1998 and 2005. Women with live births resulting from oocyte donor pregnancies were matched for age and plurality (singleton or twin) with women undergoing autologous IVF. Primary outcomes were the incidence of preeclampsia or gestational hypertension (with and without proteinuria) in the third trimester. Data on preterm delivery, low birth weight, and embryo cryopreservation were also recorded. Outcome data were available for 158 pregnancies, including 77 ovum-donor recipient pregnancies and 81 pregnancies using autologous oocytes. There were no differences in age, parity, and gestational type between the two cohorts. The incidence of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia was significantly higher in ovum-donor recipients compared with women undergoing autologous IVF (24.7% compared with 7.4%, P