A comparative analysis of arterial blood flow in unexplained infertility, tubal infertility and fertile groups

Abstract

We aimed to compare ovarian (O), uterine (U) and spiral (S) artery (A) resistance of patients diagnosed as fertile, unexplained infertility (UI) and tubal factor infertility (TFI) in the peri-implantation period and independent from the impact of the treatment. UI (n = 70), TFI (n = 75) and fertile (n = 72) patients’ ovarian, uterine and spiral artery pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI) and the endometrial thickness, serum estradiol and progesterone levels were compared. The specificity and sensitivity values were calculated according to determined cutoff values. Both TFI and control groups’ UA PI values were significantly lower than the UI group’s PI values. The highest UA RI values were found in UI group and the lowest values were in the control group. UI and TFI groups’ OA PI/RI values were significantly higher than the control group. Both the control and TFI groups’ SA PI/RI values were significantly lower than UI group’s PI/RI values. UI patients’ uterine and spiral arteries PI values >1.86 and >0.85, RI values >0.80 and >0.53 can be used as a valuable test showing reduced uterine perfusion. Ovarian artery PI values  >0.96 and RI values  >0.58 can be used as tests showing decreased ovarian perfusion in patients with TFI. In these patients, embryo cryopreservation can be considered.

Chinese abstract

我们旨在对正常生育，不明原因不孕(UI)和输卵管因素不孕(TFI)患者的卵巢(O)，子宫(U)和螺旋(S)动脉(A)阻力进行比较，研究在着床前期进行，不受治疗的影响。比较UI(n = 70)，TFI(n=75 ) 和正常生育患者(n = 72)的卵巢、子宫动脉搏动指数 (PI)、阻力指数(RI)和子宫内膜厚度、血清雌二醇和孕酮水平。根据确定的临界值计算特异度和灵敏度。TFI和对照组的子宫动脉搏动指数（UA PI）值明显低于UI的脉搏指数(PI)值。最高的UA RI值被发现在UI组，最低值出现于对照组。UI和TFI组的OA PI/ RI值明显高于对照组。实验组和TFI组的SA PI/ RI值明显低于UI组的PI/ RI值。UI患者子宫、螺旋动脉PI值为41.86和40.85，RI 值为40.80和40.53显示子宫灌注减少。卵巢动脉PI值为40.96和RI值为40.58显示TFI患者卵巢的灌注减少。这些患者可以考虑胚胎冷冻保存。

• Doppler
• endometrial and ovarian perfusion
• tubal factor infertility
• unexplained infertility

Declaration of interest

None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to declare.