title: Pathophysiologic features of "thin" endometrium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize pathophysiologic features of a "thin" endometrium.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Hospital and City General Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with normal-thickness endometrium (Normal-Em group: endometrial thickness >or=8 mm; n = 57) and thin endometrium (Thin-Em group: endometrial thickness <8 mm; n = 17).
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood flow impedance of the uterine radial artery (RA) was assessed as resistance index (RI) by transvaginal color-pulsed Doppler ultrasonography. The area of glandular epithelium, the number of blood vessels, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression were examined in the midluteal-phase endometrium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The RA-RI in the Thin-Em group was significantly higher than in the Normal-Em group throughout the menstrual cycle. Endometrial thickness was significantly correlated with RA-RI. Growth of glandular epithelium, the number of blood vessels, and VEGF expression were significantly lower in the Thin-Em group than in the Normal-Em group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A "thin" endometrium was characterized by high blood flow impedance of RA, poor epithelial growth, decreased VEGF expression, and poor vascular development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Miwa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Akihisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takasaki
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamagata
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimamura
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sugino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D004717:Endometrium / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol