The reproducibility of the Doppler ultrasound measurement of uterine artery vascular resistance.

Abstract

The intra- and interobserver variation in Doppler ultrasound measurements of uterine arteries (UA) and the variation of pulsatility index (PI) in UA in successive menstrual cycles in the same patient was studied. The intra- and interobserver variability of measurements was similar. In all three series the difference between two measurements was smaller with lower PI values. Cycle-dependent changes, biological variation and random measurement are foremost in causing variability and no systematic error was evident. Doppler ultrasound measurements from UA can be used when patient groups are compared, but in the case of an individual patient, large limits of agreement must be borne in mind.