The role of color Doppler imaging in the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to evaluate whether intraovarian and uterine blood flow variations are associated with clinical, ultrasonographic, and endocrine polycystic ovary syndrome findings.


METHODS
Thirty-two hirsute, oligomenorrheic patients and 18 volunteer women underwent in the early follicular phase ultrasonographic evaluation of ovarian volume, echodensity, and follicle number; transvaginal color Doppler measurement of the uterine and intraovarian vessel variations; and radioimmunologic dosage of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione, and other hormonal compartments.


RESULTS
In the patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (increased luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio, elevated androstenedione levels, high number of subcapsular follicles by ultrasonography-augmented ovarian volume and echodensity) (n = 22) we observed, at Doppler analysis, significantly elevated uterine artery pulsatility index values associated with a typical low resistance index of stromal ovary vascularization. The pulsatility index was positively correlated with the luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio, and the resistance index was negatively correlated. The elevated uterine artery resistance was correlated with androstenedione levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Doppler analysis can be a valuable additional tool for the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome.
Battaglia
C
C
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Modena, Italy.
Artini
P G
PG
D'Ambrogio
G
G
Genazzani
A D
AD
Genazzani
A R
AR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply; D014655:Vascular Resistance
D000735:Androstenedione; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone