Analysis of prognostic factors for patients with leiomyoma treated with uterine arterial embolization.

Objective: The objective of the study was to describe a clinically useful factors index predicting long-term efficacy of uterine artery embolization (UAE).

Methods: Newly diagnosed patients with uterine leiomyoma wishing to retain their uterus underwent UAE at our institution. Clinical demographics and 4 prognostic factors were recovered from the medical record. A regrowth-free interval (RFI) was calculated for all patients based on leiomyoma regrowth or recurrence of any previously reported symptoms. RFI by prognostic factor was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results: Forty-three patients were identified. Two prognostic factors were identified by multivariate analysis: vascularity (dichotomized as hypervascular vs hypovascular; RFI at 2 years, 80% vs 20%, P = .001) and number of nodules (solitary vs multiple; RFI at 2 years, 72% vs 25% at 2 years, P = .001)

Conclusions: UAE success may be predicted by 2 preoperative parameters. Further investigation is warranted.