Power Doppler ultrasound assessment of follicular vascularity in the early follicular phase and its relationship with outcome of in vitro fertilization

摘要

>Objective  >: To determine whether ovarian perifollicular blood flow (PFBF) in the early follicular phase (EFP) was associated with treatment outcome.>Design  >: Retrospective longitudinal cohort study.>Setting  >: Tertiary referral centre/university hospital.>Patients  >: Thirty-four women underwent 37 IVF cycles, which resulted in 35 embryo transfers.>Interventions  >: Serial transvaginal scans using power Doppler ultrasound during the follicular phase. Ovarian PFBF of follicles ≥5 mm was subjectively assessed using a modified grading system (grades 0–4).>Main outcome measures  >: Ovarian PFBF and pregnancy.>Results  >: Treatment cycles were retrospectively divided into two groups: Group 1 (n=20) had cycles with at least one small (5–10 mm) or medium (11–14 mm) size follicle(s) of high grade (2–4) PFBF on cycle day 5 or 6 or 7; and Group 2 (n=17), had cycles that did not. Group 1 had a significantly higher proportion of high grade large follicles in the late follicular phase (35% vs. 21%) (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.1–3.7) and higher clinical pregnancy rate (47% vs. 12%) (OR 6.3; CI 1.1–35.7) compared to Group 2.>Conclusion  >: High grade ovarian PFBF in the EFP during IVF is associated with both high grade PFBF in the late follicular phase and a higher clinical pregnancy rate.