title: Relationship between endometrial and subendometrial blood flow measured by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound and pregnancy after intrauterine insemination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether endometrial and subendometrial blood flow parameters measured using three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound (3D PD-US) can predict pregnancy after IUI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infertility center in a referral hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred six women who underwent ovulation induction and IUI.
  
  
  METHODS
  A color Doppler ultrasound and a 3D PD-US examination were performed on the day of IUI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), and systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratio of uterine artery, and vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI), and vascularization flow index (VFI) of the endometrium as well as those of subendometrial region. These measurements were analyzed in relation to IUI outcome (pregnant vs. nonpregnant).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pregnant group had higher endometrium VI, FI, and VFI scores than the nonpregnant group. In contrast, the subendometrial region VI, FI, and VFI scores did not differ between the groups, nor did the uterine artery PI, RI, and S/D. Pregnancies did not occur when endometrial blood flow had not been detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three-dimensional PD-US was useful for evaluating endometrial and subendometrial neovascularization in IUI cycles. Endometrial blood flow parameters may be useful predictors for pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Fertility Center, CHA Gangnam Medical Center, CHA University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Tae Ki
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Sang Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lyu
authors.forename: Hyun Ha
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Seok
authors.forename: Hyung Jae
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Won
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004717:Endometrium / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007315:Insemination, Artificial; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D014655:Vascular Resistance