The Diagnostic Value of Superb Microvascular Imaging in Prediction of Uterine Artery Embolization Treatment Response in Uterine Leiomyomas.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine if superb microvascular imaging (SMI) can predict response to uterine artery embolization (UAE) as compared with power Doppler ultrasound. METHODS: The blood flow and the volume of the dominant leiomyoma was evaluated by power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS) and SMI 1 day before and 3 months after the UAE procedure. SMI and PDUS blood flow were classified to 4 grades of vascularity. The change in fibroid volume in Grades 0-2 (hypovascular group) was compared to the hypervascular Grade 3 group. RESULTS: Twenty-eight women (mean age, 40.9 years; range, 33-53 years) were examined with PDUS and SMI before and 3 months after UAE. The volume reduction was statistically significantly higher hypervascular group (P < .05). When we accept 30% or more volume reduction as a good response to UAE, the positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of SMI were 100, 64, 73.6, 100, and 82.1%, respectively. There was excellent agreement between the two blinded observers in SMI measurements. CONCLUSIONS: SMI, with its high reproducibility, provides further microvessel information than PDUS in uterine fibroids. It may be a useful tool in prediction of response to UAE treatment and improve counseling and patient selection for UAE versus medical or surgical treatment options.

The outcome of pregnancy with new onset proteinuria without hypertension: retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate preeclampsia progression of isolated proteinuria and associations with pregnancy outcome. METHOD: We performed a retrospective analysis in patients who were hospitalized for evaluation of new onset proteinuria without hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation between January 2012 and January 2014. One hundred fifty-seven patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled the study. RESULTS: After detection of new onset proteinuria, 53 of 157 (33.7%) patients developed preeclampsia and the incidence of gestational proteinuria was found to be 0.33%. Twenty-four hours urine proteinuria testing results were significantly higher in preeclampsia (PE) group compared with the gestational proteinuria (GP) group (p < 0.01). Patients who developed preeclampsia delivered significantly earlier than the GP group (p < 0.01). The weights of the infants born to mothers in the PE group were significantly lower than the other group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The incidence of gestational proteinuria was lower than the previous studies. Preeclampsia developed in 33% of patients with new onset proteinuria in pregnancy. In patients who developed PE had significantly higher proteinuria, lower delivery time and birth weight in their infants. Therefore, patients with new onset proteinuria should be followed-up for preeclampsia development and associated morbidities.