Uterine Arcuate Artery Calcification on Transvaginal Sonography May Correlate With Known Risk Factors for Atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
Uterine arcuate artery calcification is an incidental finding on transvaginal sonography. We conducted this study to evaluate the clinical importance of arcuate artery calcification and its association with the serum lipid profile and carotid artery atherosclerosis.


METHODS
Serum lipid profiles, carotid artery intima thicknesses, and Doppler parameters of uterine arteries were examined in 25 patients with uterine arcuate artery calcification and 25 control participants. The parameters were compared between the groups.


RESULTS
The mean pulsatility indices, mean resistive indices, and systolic-to-diastolic ratios of the right and the left uterine arteries were significantly higher in the calcification group (P< .01). Serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly higher, whereas the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was significantly lower in patients with uterine arcuate artery calcification than controls (P < .01). Right and left common carotid artery intima thicknesses were also significantly higher in the calcification group (P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Uterine arcuate artery calcification is an incidental finding on transvaginal and transabdominal pelvic sonography, and it is correlated with an abnormal lipid profile and increased thicknesses of the intimal layers of the carotid arteries. We suggest that an incidental finding of arcuate artery calcification during vaginal sonography is a reason to screen for generalized atherosclerosis and related disorders.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Suleymaniye Maternity Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Mucize
M
Ozdemir
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Acibadem Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey isiluzu@gmail.com.
Isil
I
Uzun
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Suleymaniye Maternity Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Aysegul
A
Ozel
Department of Radiology, Suleymaniye Maternity Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Hatice
H
Cakar
Department of Perinatology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey.
Cihan
C
İnan
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Suleymaniye Maternity Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Fehmi
F
Yazicioglu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D055988:Uterine Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology
D008055:Lipids
arcuate artery; atherosclerosis; cholesterol; gynecologic ultrasound; gynecology