Correlation analysis of perifollicular blood flow parameters with IVF-ET follicular development,embryo quality and pregnancy outcome
Objective To analyze the correlation of perifollicular blood flow parameters with follicle development,embryo quality and pregnancy outcome in in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer(IVF-ET).Methods A retrospective case-control study was conducted to analyze the data of 112 infertile patients who underwent IVF-ET admitted to the Department of Reproductive Medicine of Zhumadian Central Hospital from October 2020 to October 2022.Perifollicular blood flow parameters[peak systolic velocity/end diastolic velocity(S/D),resistance index(RI),pulsatility index(PI)and peak systolic velocity(PSV)]were measured by vaginal color doppler ultrasound.A total of 1 156 follicles were extracted,they were divided into high-quality follicle group(n=208),and non-high-quality follicle group(n=948)according to follicle development,high-quality embryo group(n=161)and non-high-quality embryo group(n=995)according to embryo quality,pregnant group(n=37)and non-pregnant group(n=75)according to pregnancy outcome.The S/D,RI,PI and PSV of the groups were compared.The correlation indexes of PSV peak velocity among different perifollicular blood flow were compared,and the correlation between PSV and follicle development and embryo quality in non-high-quality follicle group,non-high-quality embryo group and non-pregnant group was analyzed by Pearson method.Results PSV in high-quality follicle group[(11.26±0.94)cm/s]was significantly higher than that in non-high-quality follicle group[(10.31±0.78)cm/s,P<0.001],but there were no significant differences in S/D,RI and PI between high-quality follicle group and non-high-quality follicle group(all P>0.05).PSV was significantly higher in the high-quality embryo group[(13.38±1.19)cm/s]than in the non-high-quality embryo group[(12.02±0.85)cm/s,P<0.001],but there were no significant differences in S/D,RI and PI between high-quality embryo group and non-high-quality embryo group(all P>0.05).PSV of pregnant group[(15.14±1.25)cm/s]was significantly higher than that of non-pregnant group[(8.27±0.75)cm/s,P<0.001],and there were no significant differences in S/D,RI and PI between pregnant group and non-pregnant group(all P>0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in age,infertility duration,body mass index,basal follicle-stimulating hormone level,total dosage and duration of gonadotropin used among different perifollicular blood flow PSV peak velocity(all P>0.05),but there were statistically significant differences in the number of high-quality follicles,the number of high-quality embryos and the level of β-human chorionic gonadotropin(β-hCG)[<9 cm/s:1.05±0.23,0.73±0.14,(3.05±0.61)U/L;9-10 cm/s:1.35±0.35,0.85±0.16,(22.14±5.78)U/L;>10 cm/s:2.01±0.41,1.12±0.20,(71.33±8.63)U/L;all P<0.001].Pearson correlation analysis showed that PSV was positively correlated with follicle diameter,embryo quality score and blood β-hCG level(r=0.767,P<0.001;r=0.750,P<0.001;r=0.700,P<0.001)in non-high-quality follicle group,non-high-quality embryo group,non-pregnant group.Conclusion Perifollicular blood flow parameter PSV is correlated with IVF-ET follicle development,embryo quality and pregnancy outcome,which can provide an important reference for clinical evaluation of follicle development,embryo quality and pregnancy outcome.
Fertilization in vitroEmbryo transferFollicle developmentEmbryo qualityPregnancy outcomePeak systolic velocity