Background and Objectives:Preeclampsia is a hypertension condition of pregnancy characterized by systemic vascular abnormalities, including modifications in the retinal vasculature. Changes in the blood vessels in the retina can be used as a non-invasive way to measure the severity of a disease and the risk of getting it. This study sought to assess and contrast retinal vascular alterations in preeclamptic patients with normotensive pregnant controls.
Materials and Methods:A case-control study was performed involving 50 pregnant women, comprising 25 preeclamptic patients and 25 normotensive controls matched for age and gestational age. All subjects had a comprehensive ocular evaluation, encompassing visual acuity testing, slit-lamp examination, and fundus evaluation via indirect ophthalmoscopy. Retinal vascular alterations were recorded and classified using the Keith-Wagener-Barker system. Blood pressure and proteinuria levels were documented and associated with fundoscopic results. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare retinal alterations between patients and controls.
Results:Retinal vascular alterations were noted in 18 (72%) of preeclamptic individuals, in contrast to 4 (16%) of normotensive controls. In the cases, the most prevalent observations were overall arteriolar constriction (48%), abnormalities in arteriovenous crossing (32%), and cotton wool patches (20%). There were no occurrences of retinal detachment. The severity of retinal alterations was positively linked with elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressures (p < 0.05). Normotensive controls demonstrated only minor, non-significant alterations in the retina.
Conclusion:Retinal vascular alterations are markedly more common in preeclampsia compared to normotensive pregnancies and are associated with the severity of the condition. Ophthalmic examination can be a helpful, non-invasive way to keep an eye on vascular involvement in preeclamptic patients, which can help find and treat problems early on.
International Journal of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology
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