Hemodynamic assessment in pelvic inflammatory disease by transvaginal color Doppler ultrasonography

One of the major signs of inflammation is a change in vascular flow and caliber. It is possible to detect these changes with the help of transvaginal color Doppler velocitometry. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in pelvic circulation in cases with pelvic infection and to correlate these findings with other infectious parameters. The study group consisted of 20 cases who had the diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were measured with transvaginal color Doppler ultrasonography in the uterine and ovarian arteries as well as at the tubouterine junction three times in a one-month period. At the same time the body temperature, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and leukocyte counts were recorded. Infectious parameters declined to normal values, following a pattern parallel to clinical improvement from the first until day 30. Infectious parameters revealed significant differences between days 1-7, 1-30 and 7-30. On the other hand, low resistance in all three measurement points exhibited a rapid increase on the day 7 day and plateaued until the day 30 day. Color Doppler velocitometry measurements revealed significant differences between days 1-7 and 1-30 but not between days 7-30. These findings demonstrate that as the infection subsides, the changes in vascular flow return to normal before infectious parameters do. In conclusion, it is possible to detect decreased vascular resistance in acute infection with the help of transvaginal color Doppler ultrasonography. Furthermore, color Doppler ultrasonography can accurately detect regression of the infectious process before body temperature and acute phase reactants do.