Fertility and Sterility, 93(6), 1851-1858
To examine whether thin endometria can be improved by increasing uterine radial artery (uRA) blood flow.
A prospective observational study.
University hospital and city general hospital.
PATIENT(S): Sixty-one patients with a thin endometrium (endometrial thickness [EM] <8 mm) and high radial artery-resistance index of uRA (RA-RI >or=0.81).
INTERVENTION(S): Vitamin E (600 mg/day, n = 25), l-arginine (6 g/day, n = 9), or sildenafil citrate (100 mg/day, intravaginally, n = 12) was given.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): EM and RA-RI were assessed by transvaginal color-pulsed Doppler ultrasound.
RESULT(S): Vitamin E improved RA-RI in 18 (72%) out of 25 patients and EM in 13 (52%) out of 25 patients. L-arginine improved RA-RI in eight (89%) out of nine patients and EM in six (67%) patients. Sildenafil citrate improved RA-RI and EM in 11 (92%) out of 12 patients. In the control group (n = 10), who received no medication to increase uRA-blood flow, only one (10%) patient improved in RA-RI and EM. The effect of vitamin E was histologically examined in the endometrium (n = 5). Vitamin E improved the glandular epithelial growth, development of blood vessels, and vascular endothelial growth factor protein expression in the endometrium.
CONCLUSION(S): Vitamin E, l-arginine, or sildenafil citrate treatment improves RA-RI and EM and may be useful for the patients with a thin endometrium.
Takasaki, A., Tamura, H., Miwa, I., Taketani, T., Shimamura, K., & Sugino, N. (2009). Endometrial growth and uterine blood flow: a pilot study for improving endometrial thickness in the patients with a thin endometrium. *Fertility and sterility*, *93*(6), 1851-1858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.12.062
Takasaki A, Tamura H, Miwa I, Taketani T, Shimamura K, Sugino N. Endometrial growth and uterine blood flow: a pilot study for improving endometrial thickness in the patients with a thin endometrium. Fertil Steril. 2009;93(6):1851-1858. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.12.062
Takasaki, Akihisa, et al. "Endometrial growth and uterine blood flow: a pilot study for improving endometrial thickness in the patients with a thin endometrium." *Fertility and sterility*, vol. 93, no. 6, 2009, pp. 1851-1858.
Administration, Intravaginal, Administration, Oral, Adult, Arginine/administration & Dosage, Endometrium/diagnostic Imaging/drug Effects/growth & Development/pathology, Female, Humans, Infertility, Female/drug Therapy/etiology/pathology, Organ Size/drug Effects, Pilot Projects, Piperazines/administration & Dosage, Purines/administration & Dosage, Regional Blood Flow/drug Effects/physiology, Sildenafil Citrate, Sulfones/administration & Dosage, Ultrasonography, Uterine Artery/diagnostic Imaging/drug Effects/physiology, Uterine Diseases/complications/drug Therapy/pathology, Uterus/blood Supply/diagnostic Imaging/pathology, Vasodilator Agents/administration & Dosage, Vitamin E/administration & Dosage, Young Adult, Piperazines, Purines, Sulfones, Vasodilator Agents, Vitamin E, Arginine, Sildenafil Citrate,