Progression de la rétinopathie diabétique chez les femmes enceintes : étude rétrospective monocentrique d’une série de 77 patientes consécutives

Diabetic Retinopathy Leading to Blindness- A Review

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes that damages the retina, leading to blindness. People with type 1 diabetes are at greater risk of developing DR than people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy may be divided into two primary categories: Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). There are multiple risk factors for the onset and progression of diabetic retinopathy, such as hypertension, obesity, smoking, duration of diabetes, and genetics. Numerous investigations have evaluated the levels of a wide range of inflammatory chemokines within DR patients' serum, vitreous, and aqueous fluids. In diabetic retinopathy, the vitreous fluid exhibited rises in angiogenic factors like platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or declines in antiangiogenic factors like pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF). For prevention of diabetic retinopathy, more physical activity as well as less sedentary behavior were linked to a reduced likelihood of DR. Supplementing with nutraceuticals containing vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D, E, and l-methyl folate) and mineral (zinc) can help decrease or avoid an outbreak of DR. Only laser photocoagulation and Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (Anti-VEGF) injections are advised as favorable therapies in severe retinopathy. When it comes to treating DR's VEGF levels, inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and angiogenesis, Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has an excellent future.

Adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with diabetes-related microvascular disease and risks of disease progression in pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The rise in the global prevalence of diabetes, particularly among younger people, has led to an increase in the number of pregnant women with preexisting diabetes, many of whom have diabetes-related microvascular complications. We aimed to estimate the magnitude of the risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes or disease progression in this population.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis on maternal and perinatal complications in women with type 1 or 2 diabetic microvascular disease and the risk factors for worsening of microvascular disease in pregnancy using a prospective protocol (PROSPERO CRD42017076647). We searched major databases (January 1990 to July 2021) for relevant cohort studies. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We summarized the findings as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random effects meta-analysis. We included 56 cohort studies involving 12,819 pregnant women with diabetes; including 40 from Europe and 9 from North America. Pregnant women with diabetic nephropathy were at greater risk of preeclampsia (OR 10.76, CI 6.43 to 17.99, p < 0.001), early (<34 weeks) (OR 6.90, 95% CI 3.38 to 14.06, p < 0.001) and any preterm birth (OR 4.48, CI 3.40 to 5.92, p < 0.001), and cesarean section (OR 3.04, CI 1.24 to 7.47, p = 0.015); their babies were at higher risk of perinatal death (OR 2.26, CI 1.07 to 4.75, p = 0.032), congenital abnormality (OR 2.71, CI 1.58 to 4.66, p < 0.001), small for gestational age (OR 16.89, CI 7.07 to 40.37, p < 0.001), and admission to neonatal unit (OR 2.59, CI 1.72 to 3.90, p < 0.001) compared to those without nephropathy. Diabetic retinopathy was associated with any preterm birth (OR 1.67, CI 1.27 to 2.20, p < 0.001) and preeclampsia (OR 2.20, CI 1.57 to 3.10, p < 0.001) but not other complications. The risks of onset or worsening of retinopathy were increased in women who were nulliparous (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.28 to 2.40, p < 0.001), smokers (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.25 to 4.27, p = 0.008), with existing proliferative disease (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.11 to 4.04, p = 0.022), and longer duration of diabetes (weighted mean difference: 4.51 years, 95% CI 2.26 to 6.76, p < 0.001) compared to those without the risk factors. The main limitations of this analysis are the heterogeneity of definition of retinopathy and nephropathy and the inclusion of women both with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

In pregnant women with diabetes, presence of nephropathy and/or retinopathy appear to further increase the risks of maternal complications.

The effect of assisted reproductive technology on ocular assessments

PURPOSE

The aim was to study the various ocular assessments in women undergoing assisted reproductive techniques (ART).

METHODS

A total of 117 women with infertility were enrolled for study and the ART protocol was followed. The outcome measures were intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness, corneal endothelial cell counts, Schirmer I test done at baseline (V0), post-oral contraceptive (V1), post-GnRH agonist induction phase (V2), post-conception (V3), third trimester of pregnancy (V4) and three months post-partum (V5). Schirmer I test (without topical anaesthesia) less than 10 mm in at least one eye was considered a criterion for dry eye.

RESULTS

Out of 117 women enrolled for in vitro fertilisation (IVF), only 48 patients conceived. Sixteen women had abortions and remaining 32 women, who had childbirth were followed until three months post-partum. Baseline mean IOP showed a slight decrement and corneal pachymetry and corneal endothelial cell counts showed slight increment from phases V1 to V4 of ART but statistically they were not significant (p > 0.05). At three months post-partum (V5) mean IOP, corneal pachymetry, corneal endothelial cell counts become closer to baseline in both eyes. The number of patients with at least one eye with dryness (Schirmer I less than 10 mm) significantly increased at the third trimester (p = 0.02) and three months post-partum (p = 0.035), whereas in the rest of the phases, it was comparable to baseline (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The ocular physiological changes (IOP, corneal pachymetry and corneal endothelial cell counts) seen in various phases of ART were non-specific. The ART appears to reduce tear secretions as measured by Schirmer I; however, further research would be required to determine the impact of ART on the tear film and whether ART is associated with symptoms and signs of dry eye.

Assessment of Macular Peripapillary Nerve Fiber Layer and Choroidal Thickness Changes in Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Healthy Pregnant Women, and Healthy Non-Pregnant Women

Background

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a risk factor for the development of type II diabetes and it causes maternal and child morbidity. Screening for diabetic retinopathy (DR) is important because patients who develop DR have no symptoms until macular edema and/or proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) are already present. The aim of this study was to determine the early retinal findings of GDM.

Material/Methods

This study was conducted in a tertiary research center. We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study with 3 groups: Group 1 consisted of 36 pregnant women with GDM, Group 2 consisted of 24 healthy pregnant women, and Group 3 consisted of 38 healthy non-pregnant women of reproductive age. Spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used for the assessment. Macular, choroid, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses were evaluated in patients with GDM and comparisons were made among pregnant women with GDM, healthy pregnant women, and healthy non-pregnant women for these parameters.

Results

The nasal part of the RNFL was significantly thinner in the GDM group than in the healthy pregnant group. None of the patients had retinopathy or macular edema at the time of examination.

Conclusions

Decreased nasal part of RNFL thickness may be the first retinal change in patients with GDM. Our study suggests that OCT should be performed for the patients with GDM for detection of early retinal changes associated with GDM.

Pregnancy-associated retinal diseases and their management

Pregnancy-associated retinal diseases are conditions that may occur uniquely in pregnancy or, more commonly, general conditions that may worsen or alter during pregnancy as a result of hematologic, hormonal, metabolic, cardiovascular, and immunologic changes. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is by far the most common retinal condition that is altered by pregnancy. However, there are currently no widely accepted, precise clinical guidelines regarding its management during pregnancy. At present it is not possible to predict who will regress and who will progress without treatment. Some of the variation in progression of DR in pregnancy may be a result of well-known risk factors such as hypertension or inadequate glycemic control prior to pregnancy. Other pregnancy-associated retinal diseases are relatively uncommon, and their treatments are poorly characterized. Pre-existing conditions include the white dot syndromes, such as punctuate inner choroidopathy and ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, as well as chorioretinal neovascularization from many other etiologies. Retinal and chorioretinal disorders that can arise during pregnancy include central serous chorioretinopathy and occlusive vasculopathy such as retinal artery occlusion (Purtschers-like retinopathy) and retinal vein occlusion. There remains a small group that appear to be unique to pregnancy, with pre-eclampsia- and eclampsia-associated retinopathy, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, or amniotic fluid embolism being the best described. In angiogenic retinal diseases outside of pregnancy, the use of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF agents) has proven helpful. There are no safety data about the use of anti-VEGF agents during pregnancy, and conventionally the proposed interventions have been laser photocoagulation and systemic or intravitreal injections of steroids. Most of the literature on the treatment of pregnancy associated-chorioretinal neovascularization is anecdotal.

Foveal and parafoveal retinal thickness in healthy pregnant women in their last trimester

Purpose

The inspection of foveal and parafoveal thickness in healthy pregnant women in the last trimester.

Materials and methods

This study included 40 healthy pregnant women in their last trimester (study group: 40 women, 80 eyes) and 37 nonpregnant women (control group: 37 women, 74 eyes). Visual acuity, intraocular pressure, slit lamp examination of anterior and posterior segments, and visual field examination with automated perimetry were performed in both groups. Foveal and parafoveal thickness in the four quadrants (upper, nasal, temporal, and inferior parafoveal) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer were measured by optical coherence tomography. There were no systemic or ocular problems in either group. Findings were analyzed with statistical software. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Mean foveal and parafoveal thicknesses in the study group were: foveal 236.12 ± 27.28 μm, upper quadrant 321.31 ± 12.28 μm, temporal quadrant 307.0 ± 12.05 μm, inferior quadrant 317.0 ± 10.58 μm, and nasal quadrant 313.62 ± 14.51 μm. Mean foveal and parafoveal thicknesses in the control group were: foveal 224.62 ± 21.19 μm, upper quadrant 311.62 ± 12.71 μm, temporal quadrant 296.87 ± 13.78 μm, inferior quadrant 305.43 ± 13.25 μm, and nasal quadrant 304.93 ± 13.44 μm. Mean retinal nerve fiber layer thicknesses in the study and control group were 110 ± 12.4 μm and 108 ± 13.1 μm, respectively.

Conclusion

Mean retinal thickness in pregnant women was higher than control group in all measurements. Statistically significant difference in thickness was only found in upper, temporal, and inferior parafoveal areas.