Unexplained maternal serum-fetoprotein (MSAFP) elevation has been known to be associated with adverse obstetric outcomes, however it is not sufficiently useful as a screening test. This study was undertaken to determine whether uterine artery Doppler velocimetry could define a subset of patients with an elevated MSAFP level in whom complications of pregnancy might develop. The subjects included 179 women between 26 and 28 weeks' gestation with MSAFP > or = 2.5 multiples of the median, in whom either the presence of an early diastolic notch or a resistance index 0.6 was considered as an abnormal Doppler velocimetry finding. Those subjects who displayed abnormal Doppler velocimetry findings showed an increased incidence of preeclampsia, preterm birth, IUGR, and IUFD compared to those subjects with only elevated MSAFP (p < 0.05). No differences were observed in the incidence of LBW. Positive predictive values of adverse obstetric outcomes were significantly higher in the group having both elevated MSAFP and abnormal Doppler velocimetry compared to the group with only elevated MSAFP (p < 0.05). Uterine artery Doppler velocimetry in the second trimester can improve the value of unexplained MSAFP elevation in the prediction of adverse obstetric outcomes.
Adult ; Arteries/ultrasonography ; Female ; Forecasting ; Human ; Incidence ; Pregnancy/blood* ; Pregnancy Complications*/epidemiology ; Uterus/ultrasonography* ; Uterus/blood supply* ; alpha-Fetoproteins/analysis*

Interstitial ectopic pregnancy is a rare condition of pregnancy and may be very dangerous if not identified and treated urgently. We report a case of successful treatment of an interstitial pregnancy using selective uterine artery embolization. A 27-year-old woman with interstitial pregnancy was treated by uterine artery embolization after failure of systemic methotrexate treatment. Her serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) was undetectable one month after the therapeutic embolization and transvaginal sonography 31 days after embolization showed normal endometrium and cornu. The patient achieved a normal pregnancy eight months after embolization.
Adult ; Embolization, Therapeutic/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic/*therapy/ultrasonography ; Uterus/*blood supply

Transrectal Doppler sonography was used to evaluate uterine blood flow during the first two weeks after parturition in six primiparous Simmental cows. The uterine blood flow was evaluated on the day of parturition (Day 0), once daily from Days 1 to 8 and then every other day until Day 14. Blood flow was quantified by determining the diameter (D), the time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMV), the pulsatility index (PI) and the blood flow volume (BFV) of the uterine arteries ipsilateral and contralateral to the formerly pregnant uterine horn. During the first four days after calving D, TAMV and BFV declined (ipsilateral: TAMV 70%, BFV 87%, contralateral: D 47%, BFV 84%; p < 0.05), while PI increased (ipsilateral 158%, contralateral 100%; p < 0.05) distinctly. Between Days 4 and 14 only the ipsilateral D (12%) and the BFV of both arteries (ipsilateral 5%, contralateral 8%) decreased (p < 0.05). Blood flow variables were very strongly correlated with each other (r > +/-0.75, p < 0.05), with negative correlations with PI and positive correlations with all other investigated factors. Overall, this study revealed characteristic changes in uterine perfusion during the first two weeks after parturition in cows that were pronounced during the first four days postpartum.
Animals ; Blood Flow Velocity/veterinary ; Cattle ; Female ; Parturition ; *Postpartum Period ; Pulse Wave Analysis/veterinary ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color/*methods/veterinary ; Uterine Artery/anatomy & histology/*ultrasonography ; Uterus/*blood supply/*ultrasonography

Preoperative uterine artery embolization and cervical evacuation as conservative management of cervical pregnancy has been tried in recent years. However, cervical suturing, vasoconstrictor injection, or cervical ballooning was frequently used as an ancillary measures in those procedures in most of the previous studies. We report two cases of cervical pregnancy that were successfully treated with preoperative uterine artery embolization and removal of gestational material without ancillary procedures. Our therapeutic modality seems to be safe and effective for conservative management of cervical pregnancy.
Adult ; Case Report ; Cervix Uteri ; Dilatation and Curettage ; *Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Human ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic/*therapy/ultrasonography ; Preoperative Care ; Uterine Hemorrhage/prevention & control ; Uterus/*blood supply

Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Leiomyoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Uterus ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Venous Thrombosis ; diagnosis ; surgery