Serum levels of oestradiol-15 beta and luteinizing hormone related to follicular growth as monitored by ultrasound in women with normal menstrual cycles.

Serum levels of oestradiol-15 beta (Oe2), luteinizing hormone (LH) and progesterone (P) in 20 healthy women were correlated to the size of the ripening follicle during the follicular phase of normal menstrual cycles. Growing follicles were measured by ultrasound using the full bladder technique. In each individual case a good correlation (r = 0.88) between the Oe2 values and the size of the maturing follicle was found. However, since all women examined ovulated at a different Graafian follicle diameter (range 17 to 26 mm), the corresponding Oe2 values showed quite a large variation (range 0.78 to 2.5 nmol/l). The cervical score correlated to follicular maturation up to a follicle size of 19 mm (maximal cervical reaction). From there on no further improvement of the cervical parameters could be observed. We conclude that ultrasound monitoring of follicular growth can be a useful addition to the Oe2 and P measurements in the clinical management of the infertile woman. Bifollicular maturation can be diagnosed early, when the endocrinological data are combined with follicle size. Moreover, a correlation can be made between follicular growth and oestradiol production in the individual cycle.

[Ultrasonographic diagnosis in disturbances of early pregnancy (author's transl)]. / Ultraschalldiagnostik bei gestörter Frühschwangerschaft.

Ultrasonography using high-magnification, modern ultrasonographs enables information on intactness of pregnancy in early disturbed pregnancy. The ultrasound findings can be correlated with the clinical diagnoses, such as incomplete abortion. A final diagnosis, such as missed abortion, can frequently only be made after exact ultrasonographic investigation. The failure rate depends on the equipment and the experience of the investigator. Exact knowledge of the gestational age clearly influences the accuracy of an ultrasonographic diagnosis in early pregnancy. A gestational age earlier than the calculated one may be mistaken for a pregnancy that is no longer intact.

The flow resistance of the maternal placental vascular bed of anesthetized guinea pigs.

In anesthetized guinea pigs, the maternal placental vascular bed (the spiral arteries and the trophoblastic lacunae with the draining veins) was perfused with blood via a tube connecting a carotid artery and a spiral artery. The placental blood flow and the blood pressures at the beginning of the perfused spiral artery, in the peripheral part of a nonperfused spiral artery and in the placental vein were measured. From these data the vascular resistance of the maternal vascular bed was calculated to be only 0.8 mm Hg min/ml. A driving pressure of about 10 mm Hg maintains the probably normal placental blood flow. The vascular resistance was found to be independent of the blood pressure and the blood flow.