Changes in blood-flow impedance of the human corpus luteum throughout the luteal phase and during early pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To examine changes in blood flow in the corpus luteum throughout the luteal phase and during early pregnancy.


METHODS
Longitudinal and cross-sectional prospective studies.


METHODS
University hospital and city general hospital.


METHODS
Sixty-one women with normal menstrual cycles and normal luteal function, 13 women with hCG-induced ovulatory cycle, 10 women with luteal phase defect, six women with luteinized unruptured follicle (LUF), and 17 pregnant women (4-10 weeks of gestation).


METHODS
Blood-flow impedance in the corpus luteum was assessed by transvaginal color-pulsed Doppler ultrasound.


METHODS
Resistance index (RI) in the corpus luteum.


RESULTS
In the normal menstrual cycle, the RI of the preovulatory follicle was high and significantly decreased after ovulation. Luteal-RI further decreased during the early to midluteal phase but significantly increased during the late luteal phase. Those changes in luteal-RI were similar to those of the hCG-induced ovulatory cycle. Luteal-RI during the midluteal phase was significantly higher in the patients with luteal phase defect than in women with normal luteal function. Luteal-RI of the LUF patients remained high throughout the luteal phase. In pregnant women, luteal-RI remained at the midluteal phase level until 7 weeks of gestation and significantly increased thereafter.


CONCLUSIONS
The change in luteal-RI was associated with corpus luteum development and corpus luteum regression. Luteal-RI was closely associated with luteal function.
Tamura
Hiroshi
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
Takasaki
Akihisa
A
Taniguchi
Ken
K
Matsuoka
Aki
A
Shimamura
Katsunori
K
Sugino
Norihiro
N
D000328:Adult; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008183:Luteal Phase; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D018617:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed; D014655:Vascular Resistance
D011374:Progesterone