relationship between uterine artery two-dimensional color Doppler measurement and pregnancy outcome: a prospective observational study

Background: the purpose of the study was to evaluate the role of uterine blood flow parameters measured by uterine artery two-dimensional [2D]-power color Doppler [PCD] ultrasound in predicting fertility outcomes in women undergoing IVF-ET cycles

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Methods: in this prospective observational study, a total of 188 infertile women who underwent IVF-ET cycles were investigated. Uterine artery 2D-PD measurements were taken during early follicular phase and on day of trigger. Pulsatility Index [PI], Resistant Index [RI], Peak Systolic Velocity [PSV], and Systolic/Diastolic ratio [S/D] were measured. Statistical correlation was sought between the doppler parameters and fertility outcomes

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Results: the pregnancy rate was 40.43% [76/188]. The women who conceived [n= 76] [Group A] were found to have mean age of 31.2+/-3.9 years whereas the nonpregnant group of women [n=112] [Group B] had mean age of 31.45+/-4.25 years. The mean PI measurements subsequently during early follicular phase and on the day of hCG trigger between group A and group B were comparable [2.09+/-1.15 versus 1.9+/-0.95; p=0.385 and 1.86+/-1.12 versus 2.03+/-1.0; p=0.192, respectively]. No significant changes in the uterine artery PSV values and S/D values and RI were noted during the cycle

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Conclusion: uterine artery doppler evaluation in women undergoing IVF cycles was not predictive of the pregnancy outcomes