Sonographic and Doppler characteristics of the corpus luteum: can they predict pregnancy outcome?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there is a relationship between gray scale or Doppler characteristics of the corpus luteum and first-trimester pregnancy outcome.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective study of patients with spontaneous singleton pregnancies between 5 and 8 weeks' gestation. The corpus luteum size, sonographic appearance, resistive index, and peak systolic velocity were measured on transvaginal sonography. Maternal use of exogeneous progesterone was recorded. Only patients with known first-trimester outcome were included.


RESULTS
There were 201 study patients. The corpus luteum could be visualized in 197 (98%) and had a mean +/- SD size of 1.9 +/- 0.6 cm, a mean resistive index of 0.50 +/- 0.08, and a peak systolic velocity of 20.5 +/- 11.2 cm/s. There were 151 first-trimester survivors (75.1 %) and 50 spontaneous losses (24.9%). In a comparison of the survivors and losses, there was no significant difference in mean corpus luteum size (1.9 versus 1.7 cm; P = .10, t test), mean resistive index (0.50 versus 0.50; P = .71, t test), peak systolic velocity (21 versus 19 cm/s; P = .29, t test), or sonographic appearance (P = .78, chi2 test). The lack of association between corpus luteum characteristics and outcome persisted when cases were stratified by progesterone use and the presence or absence of a heartbeat on the study sonogram.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no apparent relationship between the characteristics of the corpus luteum and first-trimester pregnancy outcome.
Frates
M C
MC
Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Doubilet
P M
PM
Durfee
S M
SM
Di Salvo
D N
DN
Laing
F C
FC
Brown
D L
DL
Benson
C B
CB
Hill
J A
JA
D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011374:Progesterone / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012212:Rheology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
D011374:Progesterone