Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37715124›Full record

Observational studyBMC medical imaging2023

The use of real time strain endometrial elastosonography plus endometrial thickness and vascularization flow index to predict endometrial receptivity in IVF treatments: a pilot study.

Antonio Stanziano, Francesco Paolo Bianchi, Anna Maria Caringella, Clementina Cantatore, Antonio D'Amato, Angela Vitti, Anna Cortone, Amerigo Vitagliano, Giuseppe D'Amato

Open access · goldAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC medical imaging, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.6field-weighted citation impact, top 16% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Impact of endometrial thickness on reproductive outcome in fresh and frozen-thawed embryo transfer: systematic review and meta-analysis.Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Antonio StanzianoDepartment of Advanced Reproductive Risk Management and High-Risk Pregnancies, ASL Bari, Reproductive and IVF Unit, PTA Conversano, Conversano, BA, Italy. dottantoniostanziano@gmail.com.
Francesco Paolo BianchiDepartment of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
Anna Maria CaringellaDepartment of Advanced Reproductive Risk Management and High-Risk Pregnancies, ASL Bari, Reproductive and IVF Unit, PTA Conversano, Conversano, BA, Italy.
Clementina CantatoreDepartment of Advanced Reproductive Risk Management and High-Risk Pregnancies, ASL Bari, Reproductive and IVF Unit, PTA Conversano, Conversano, BA, Italy.
Antonio D'AmatoGynecology and Obstetrics Clinic, University of Bari, Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
Angela VittiDepartment of Advanced Reproductive Risk Management and High-Risk Pregnancies, ASL Bari, Reproductive and IVF Unit, PTA Conversano, Conversano, BA, Italy.
Anna CortoneDepartment of Advanced Reproductive Risk Management and High-Risk Pregnancies, ASL Bari, Reproductive and IVF Unit, PTA Conversano, Conversano, BA, Italy.
Amerigo VitaglianoGynecology and Obstetrics Clinic, University of Bari, Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
Giuseppe D'AmatoDepartment of Advanced Reproductive Risk Management and High-Risk Pregnancies, ASL Bari, Reproductive and IVF Unit, PTA Conversano, Conversano, BA, Italy.
University of Bari Aldo Moro · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe usefulness of endometrium strain elastosonography (SE) for the evaluation of endometrial receptivity in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) remains controversial. The objective of this prospective, observational study was to evaluate the correlation between endometrial thickness (EMT) and its related strain (ESR) on the day of ovulation triggering (hCG-d) and in vitro fertilization outcomes. Additionally, 3D Power Doppler vascular indices (3DPDVI) were also analysed.

methodsWe included all the patients undergoing fresh IVF-single blastocyst transfer cycle from January 2021 to August 2021 at our center. On hCG-d, after B-mode scanning was completed to measure the EMT, the mode was changed to elastosonography to evaluate the ESR (ratio between endometrial tissue and the myometrium below). At the end of examination, the Endometrial Volume (EV) and 3DPDVI (vascularization index [VI], flow index [FI] and vascularization flow index [VFI]), were assessed. Statistical analysis was completed using STATA MP16 software.

resultsA total number of 57 women were included. Based on the EMT on hCG-d, women were divided into two groups, Group 1: <7 mm and Group 2 ≥ 7 mm. Women with EMT < 7 mm had a significantly higher ESR (p = 0.004) and lower pregnancy rate (p = 0.04). Additionally, low ESR values were correlated with high VFI values (rho = -0.8; 95% CI = -0.9- -0.6; p < 0.0001) and EMT ≥ 7 mm could be predicted by low ESR (OR = 0.01; 95% CI = 0.01-0.30; p = 0.008, area under the ROC curve: 0.70). After all, in multiple logistic regression analysis, low values of ESR (p = 0.050) and high values of EMT (p = 0.051) on hCG-d had borderline statistical effects on pregnancy rate.

conclusionsThe ESR may be useful to improve the ultrasound evaluation of the endometrial quality in infertile women candidates to IVF/ICS. Given the small sample size of our study, the usefulness of strain elastosonography in this patients, needs further investigation.

Indexed as

Infertility, FemaleEndometriumFemaleFertilization in VitroHumansNeovascularization, PathologicPilot ProjectsPregnancyProspective StudiesEndometrial receptivityEndometrial thicknessEndometrial vascularityIVF cyclesPregnancy rate.Strain elastosonography

Identifiers

PMID37715124
PMCPMC10503140
OpenAlexW4386777281

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.