title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Pränatale Diagnostik und Therapie, Frauenklinik der Universität, Sigmund Freud Strasse 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Schild
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holthaus
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: d'Alquen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fimmers
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dorn
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Der Ven
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hansmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004717:Endometrium / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler