Comparison of Uterine Artery Blood Flow Parameters in Women with Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding,Fibroids and Healthy Controls

Abstract

Objective

To assess uterine vascular resistance in women with dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) and to compare parameters of blood flow in women with menorrhagia due to uterine fibroids and healthy controls

Design

Longitudinal, prospective clinical study.

Materials and methods

Premenopausal women referred to the gynaecology department with a subjective complaint of menorrhagia. The subjects were 24 women with DUB (mean age 38.8 years; normal ultrasound, hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy), 16 women (mean age 42.8 years) with at least one fibroid greater than 2.0cm on ultrasound examination and 18 healthy controls (mean age 37.3 years; no evidence of menstrual irregularity). None was taking any hormonal contraception or other medication which could influence vascular resistance. Ultrasound examination was performed using an ALOKA SSD 650 with a 5MHz transvaginal probe. Scans were performed on day 4 or 5 of menstrual cycle using pulsed Doppler ultrasound. Uterine vascular resistance was assessed on both sides using pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI).

Results

No significant difference in the PI or RI values was observed in women with DUB as compared to age matched healthy controls. Both PI and RI were significantly lower in women with menorrhagia associated with fibroids when compared with healthy controls.

Conclusions

The results of this study demonstrated significant alteration in uterine vascular resistance in women with fibroids compared to women with DUB.