[Investigation of the hemodynamic changes during uterine arterial embolization in the treatment of adenomyosis].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the hemodynamic changes before and after uterine arterial embolization (UAE) in the treatment of adenomyosis.

METHODS

UAE was performed in 30 patients with adenomyosis diagnosed by clinical manifestation, magnetic resonance and/or color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI). The mean flow velocity (Vm), resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) of bilateral uterine arteries were measured by CDFI 1 week before, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after UAE. Mean time of the blood flow in normal myometrium and adenomyosis lesions were observed by color Doppler energy.

RESULTS

Vm, PI and RI were markedly reduced after UAE, especially on the 7th day after UAE (P < 0.01). Concomitantly the blood flow volume (BFV) in normal myometrium was also decreased and recovered to normal again 1 month and 3 months after treatment (P < 0.05, compared to the 7th day after UAE) but the BFV inside the adenomyosis lesion kept lower state after UAE.

CONCLUSIONS

The most obvious hemodynamic changes of uterine arteries occurred 1 week after UAE. The blood supply of normal myometrium recovered to normal after 30 days. But those of lesions were irreversible until 3 months after UAE.