Quantitative assessment of subendometrial blood flow by three-dimensional-ultrasound is an important predictive factor of implantation in an in-vitro fertilization programme

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the role of three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler sonography of the (sub-) endometrial area on the first day of ovarian stimulation in predicting the outcome of an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programme. Among the 75 cycles analysed, the overall pregnancy rate was 20% (15/75) per cycle and 23.8% (15/63) per embryo transfer. Intra-observer variability of the colour histogram was checked in 14 patients with the results demonstrating a high level of agreement. Neither endometrial measurements nor uterine blood flow were correlated with the pregnancy rate. In contrast, all 3D indices were significantly lower in conception compared with non-conception cycles (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis found the subendometrial flow index to be the strongest predictive factor of IVF success among the tested sonographic parameters (P = 0.04). In conclusion, quantitative assessment of spiral artery blood flow may be of predictive value for implantation in IVF cycles even before ovarian stimulation therapy is started.

The Role of Ultrasound in the Evaluation of Endometrial Receptivity Following Assisted Reproductive Treatments

“…No significant differences were found in subendometrial VI and VPI between conception and non-conception cycles. These results were opposite to those reported by Schild et al (2000). Wu at al.…”

“…All studies more recently published have not demonstrated that endometrial volume is predictive for pregnancy after IVF program (Jarvela et al, 2005;Kupesic et al, 2001;Schild et al, 2000;Wu et al, 2003). This could be explained by methodological differences in volume calculation.…”

Endometrial Receptivity and Scoring for Prediction of Implantation and Newer Markers

“…Transvaginal ultrasonography is often used to examine various parameters of endometrium like endometrial thickness, morphology and blood flow status to predict uterine receptivity. 3,27 Endometrium pattern, endometrium thickness, and end-diastolic blood flow were shown to be the most effective combination for evaluation of uterine receptivity. 4 …”

“…The consensus on how to do ideal endoemtrial blood flow study and endometrial receptivity scoring still tails [Appelebaun, 2 and Schild et al, 27 Kupesic, 30 Salle 31 ].…”

Endometrial preparation for in vitro oocyte maturation: Early use of estrogen increases endometrial tissue and requires lower daily dosage: A cross over trial in ‘mock’ cycles

“…Automatic evaluation was used to determine the pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) of this vessel. The same procedure was applied to the left uterine artery and to the subendometrial arteries (arteries located in the myometrium at a distance of less than 5 mm from the endometrial transition) (11). PI = (Peak systolic velocity-end diastolic velocity)/timeaveraged maximum velocity (12) RI = (Peak systolic velocity-end diastolic velocity)/peak systolic velocity (13) All data were stored on a hard disk and CDs, and all measurements were made soon after the end of the exam by the same observer (WPM).…”