Color Doppler sonographic analysis of uterine and ovarian artery blood flow in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

PURPOSE: To study the blood flow patterns of utero-ovarian circulation in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to assess their relationship with clinical, metabolic, and hormonal data.

METHODS: Forty-three women with PCOS and 43 age-matched healthy controls underwent Doppler examination of the utero-ovarian circulation in the follicular phase. Demographic, hormonal, and metabolic parameters were determined. Student's t-test, chi(2)-test, and Spearman correlation test were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: The ovarian artery pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), and SD ratios were significantly lower in PCOS than in controls on the right side (p < 0.001, p = 0.02, p = 0.001, respectively) as well as on the left side (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). The uterine artery systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratio was higher on both sides (p = 0.01) and the PI was higher on the left side (p = 0.02) in PCOS than in controls. The right uterine artery PI was positively correlated with luteinizing hormone and hemoglobin (r = 0.417, p = 0.043; r = 0.427, p = 0.033, respectively), the right uterine artery S/D was positively correlated with body mass index (r = 0.479, p = 0.015), and the left uterine artery PI was positively correlated with insulin (r = 0.458, p = 0.021).

CONCLUSION: Doppler sonography of the utero-ovarian circulation may contribute to the evaluation of PCOS patients and a better understanding of the pathophysiology of this syndrome.