Perifollicular vascularity in poor ovarian responders during IVF.
BACKGROUND
Normal ovarian responders who have follicles with good vascularity shown by power Doppler scanning are associated with a better pregnancy rate following IVF treatment. This study evaluated the significance of perifollicular vascularity and follicular fluid hormonal profile in poor responders who developed < or = 3 dominant follicles.


METHODS
Before oocyte retrieval, they underwent power Doppler examination for perifollicular vascularity. Patients who had all follicles with low-grade vascularity were classified as Group A, whereas those with at least one follicle with high-grade vascularity were Group B. Their follicular fluid concentrations of estradiol (E2), progesterone, HCG, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and inhibin B were measured.


RESULTS
A total of 58 consecutive patients were recruited: 38 in Group A and 20 in Group B. Implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and follicular fluid hormonal concentrations were comparable for Groups A and B. Multiple pregnancy and live birth rates appeared higher, whereas miscarriage rate were lower in Group B than Group A, but these differences did not reach statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
There were no significant differences in the implantation, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates among poor responders with and without high-grade perifollicular vascularity.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
Anita
A
Kan
Ernest Hung Yu
EH
Ng
William Shu Biu
WS
Yeung
Pak Chung
PC
Ho
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous; D000328:Adult; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D015571:Follicular Fluid; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000378:metabolism; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C422364:inhibin B; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins