Abstract
Background: Uterine perfusion appears to regulate uterine receptivity. However, vascular changes in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) remain poorly studied. Methods: One hundred and twentyone women were enrolled into this study: normal women with sterility caused by male factor (control group: n = 72) and women with RPL (n = 49). Women with uterine anomaly, impaired glucose tolerance, abnormal thyroid function, or anti-phospholipid antibodies were excluded from the study. In the mid-luteal phase of a non-pregnant cycle, transvaginal pulsed Doppler ultrasonography of the uterine artery was performed. Uterine arterial pulsatility index (PI), endometrial thickness, serum estradiol, progesterone, and nitrite/nitrate concentrations were determined. Results: In the RPL group, the PI in the uterine artery of women with antinuclear antibodies was significantly higher than that of women without antinuclear antibodies (P < 0.05). Among women without antinuclear antibodies, the mean (±SD) uterine artery PI in the RPL group (2.44 ± 0.41) was also significantly higher than in the control group (2.19 ± 0.40; P < 0.01). The PI was inversely correlated with serum progesterone levels (r = -0.47, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Elevated uterine arterial impedance is associated with RPL. Pulsed Doppler ultrasonography is useful in identifying women with unexplained RPL who have impaired uterine circulation.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 190-194 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Human Reproduction |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2002 |
Keywords
- Progesterone
- Pulsed Doppler ultrasonography
- Recurrent pregnancy loss
- Uterine artery
- Uterine receptivity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Reproductive Medicine
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology