Corpus luteum blood flow in normal and abnormal early pregnancy: evaluation and analysis with transvaginal color and pulsed Doppler sonography

Objective Detecting and assessment the corpus luteum blood flow in normal and abnormal early pregnancy. Methods Using transvaginal color and pulse Doppler sonography ,we detected 215 pregnant women including 150 normal intrauterine pregnancies,25 abortion,29 ectopic pregnancies, and then recorded corpus luteum blood flow feaure and the blood flow indexes (Vmax, RI and PI). Results ① Corpus luteum was sucessfuly identified in 148 cases out of 150 of normal early pregnancies , 25 cases out of 26 of threatened abortion; 22 cases out of 29 of ectopic pregnancy. ② Three groups shared the same feature of Color Doppler imaging: a circumferential rim around the entire corpus luteum.③ The flow index revealed mean PVS, RI and PI had no statistical differece in normal and abnormal early pregnancy;The mean PVS was lower in ectopic pregnancy than in normal pregnancy(P 0.05), while PI and PR had no characteristic in ectopic pregnancy group compared with the indexes obtained in normal pregnancy group. Conclusion The corpus luteum can be precisely identified in most pregnancy using transvaginal color Doppler and manifests a characterized rim Doppler imaging.PVS may help in differentiating the ectopic pregnancy from normal early pregnancy. [