Objective: The aim of our study is to evaluate the safety and short - term clinical efficacy of uterine artery embolization in the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids. Material and methods: Intraarterial embolization of the uterine artery for symptomatic leiomyomas (pelvialgia, dyspareunia, menorrhagia, sterility) was performed in nine patients in the age ranges from 26 to 44 years (mean age 35 years) during an interval of 9 months (from 3/00 to 12/00). All procedures were performedfrom a transfemoral approach, bilateral embolization was done in seven patients, unilateral in two patients. Polyvinyl alcohol particles were used in 4 cases, trisacryl gelatin microspheres were used in five cases. Results: All the procedures were technically successful, one uterine artery was embolized in two cases. There were no procedure-related serious complications. The postembolization syndrome was present in all cases, once with severe pain the second day after the procedure. The mean follow up was 4 months (range from 1 to 7 months) in six patients. The mean shrinkage of the largest fibroid was 45 % during the follow up. The menstrual cycle was restored in four patients. There was so far no pregnancy in patients treated for sterility in our group. Other clinical symptoms improved or resolved completely. The last three patients are not yet included in the follow up. Conclusion: In our initial experience, uterine fibroid embolization is an effective, minimally invasive technique in treatment of uterine fibroids. It is suitable for treatment in patients who refuse hysterectomy or excessive myomectomy as alternative treatment.

        Key words: uterine fibroid - endovascular therapy - embolization