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Correlation between three-dimensional power Doppler and morphometric measurement of endometrial vascularity at the time of embryo implantation in women with unexplained recurrent miscarriage

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Abstract

Power Doppler in combination with three-dimensional (3D-PD) ultrasonography has been used as a noninvasive tool to evaluate the vascularity. However, it is unclear whether 3D-PD can accurately reflect endometrial vascularization and replace the invasive endometrial biopsy. This study aims to investigate the correlation between 3D-PD and micro vessel morphometric measurement of endometrial vascularity. Twenty-five women with unexplained recurrent miscarriage were recruited for 3D-PD and endometrial biopsy on precisely day LH + 7. Immunohistochemistry using vWF was employed to identify micro vessels in endometrial biopsy specimens followed by the use of morphometric technique to measure the mean vessel diameter and volume fractions. The vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI) assessed by 3D-PD were calculated for both the endometrial and sub-endometrial regions. There were no significant correlations between any of the ultrasonographic measurements (endometrial thickness, endometrial volume, endometrial VI/FI/VFI, sub-endometrial volume, sub-endometrial VI/FI/VFI) and morphometric features (number of micro vessel, mean diameter of micro vessel and volume fraction measurement of vessel). This study indicates that endometrial vascularity assessed by 3D-PD could not be used to reflect changes in micro vessels of the endometrium at the time of embryo implantation in women with unexplained recurrent miscarriage.

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Funding

This study was supported by Hong Kong Obstetrical and Gynaecological Trust Fund in 2016, Hong Kong. Xiaoyan Chen is a recipient of Hong Kong PhD Fellowship from Hong Kong Research Grants Council.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong

      Xiaoyan Chen, Sotirios H. Saravelos, Yingyu Liu, Jin Huang, Chi Chiu Wang & Tin Chiu Li

    2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Imperial College London, London, UK

      Sotirios H. Saravelos

    3. Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong

      Chi Chiu Wang

    4. School of Biomedical Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong

      Chi Chiu Wang

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    1. Xiaoyan Chen
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    2. Sotirios H. Saravelos
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    4. Jin Huang
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    Correspondence to Tin Chiu Li.

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    Xiaoyan Chen and Sotirios H Saravelos: similar in author order.

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    Chen, X., Saravelos, S.H., Liu, Y. et al. Correlation between three-dimensional power Doppler and morphometric measurement of endometrial vascularity at the time of embryo implantation in women with unexplained recurrent miscarriage. J Mol Hist 48, 235–242 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-017-9722-7

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-017-9722-7

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