ASSESSMENT OF LUTEAL BLOOD-FLOW IN NORMAL EARLY-PREGNANCY

A cross-sectional study was performed in 85 low-risk singleton first t rimester pregnancies to assess corpus luteum blood flow during this pe riod. Gestational age, established by measuring crown-rump length, ran ged from 6 to 12 weeks. All cases were studied by transvaginal color v elocity imaging and pulsed Doppler ultrasonography. After corpus luteu m blood flow was identified by color velocity imaging, the resistive i ndex and pulsatility index were calculated to assess vascular resistan ce. Overall, detection rate of corpus luteum blood flow was 75.2%. No statistical differences were found in mean resistive index and pulsati lity index among gestational weeks studied. Linear regression analysis showed that nonsignificant changes in resistive and pulsatility indic es occur during the first weeks of normal early pregnancy (R(2) = 0.00 59 for resistive index, R(2) = 0.0008 for pulsatility index). In concl usion, luteal blood flow is constant during normal early pregnancy.