Ocular Changes During Pregnancy

The Effect of Hyperemesis Gravidarum on Macular Thickness, Corneal Thickness, and Intraocular Pressure in Pregnancy

AIM

Physiological changes in intraocular pressure as well as in the cornea and macula may occur during pregnancy. Therefore, we decided to investigate the effect of hyperemesis gravidarum on macular thickness, corneal thickness and intraocular pressure (IOP).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 110 people, 55 of whom were diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum and 55 of whom were in the control group, were included in the study. The inclusion criteria for the study were as follows: first trimester (8-14 weeks of gestation) pregnancy with positive fetal heartbeat and no history of systemic disease, no continuous use of medication, diagnosis of hyperemesis gravidarum (ketonuria and weight loss of more than 3 kilograms or 5% of body weight), body mass index (BMI) within normal limits, age between 18 and 40, no alcohol use or smoking.

RESULTS

In the HG group compared to the control group, there was a difference between the CCT values of both the right and left eyes (p<0.01). There was a difference in both right and left IOP values in patients in the HG group compared to the control group (p<0.05), and there was no correlation between ketonuria scores and right and left eye CCT values, right and left eye macular thickness, and right and left eye pressure in patients diagnosed with HG (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

In hyperemesis gravidarum, changes occur in IOP, corneal thickness, and macular thickness. In ophthalmic examinations in the pregestational period, especially for women with systemic disease, it may be important for clinicians to take the necessary precautions in this regard.

Diabetic Retinopathy during pregnancy in Hispanic women with latent Toxoplasma gondii infection

BACKGROUND

Retinal photography was performed in pregnancy and postpartum in pregnant Hispanic women with latent Toxoplasma gondii (TG) infection in order to screen for characteristic retinal lesions or the particular scars found in people with active T. gondii infection. A comparison group of TG negative women was included in the study but they did not have retinal photography.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of the parent study was to assess for adverse pregnancy events and evidence for parasite reactivation in TG positive (TG + ) women, through examination of the eyes for characteristic lesions. Retinal photography, usually at prenatal visits 2 (17 +/- 3.35 weeks) and 3 (26.3+/-1.75) weeks, was done on TG + women. Fifty-six of these women also (43 %) had retinal photography at the postpartum visit. Health and demographic data were obtained at the first prenatal visit for all women.

STUDY DESIGN

From the 690 recruited at the first prenatal visit, 128 TG- women and 158 TG + women were enrolled in a prospective study through pregnancy and the postpartum. All TG- women (n = 532) provided data at the first prenatal visit and throughout their pregnancy and birth through the EHR. This allowed comparison of health and outcome data for the TG + compared to a larger number of TG- Hispanic pregnant women.

RESULTS

While there was no evidence of ocular toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, there was a surprisingly large number (42 %) of TG + women with diabetic retinopathy (DR). We also observed that TG + women had a 20 % incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared to 11.3 % in the TG- women (p = 0.01). At postpartum (mean 5.6 weeks), 23 of 30 women with pregnancy DR showed no DR in the postpartum.

CONCLUSIONS

No characteristic T. gondii lesions were discovered. Retinal photography serendipitously revealed DR in these T. gondii positive women. It was also found that latent TG infection was associated with increased incidence of GDM. Hispanic pregnant women's increased risk for latent TG infection, GDM and DR are underappreciated. Retinal photography may need to be considered an innovative approach to screening.

Ocular Manifestations: Are They Significant in Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy?

Background

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy lead to pathological changes in various organ systems of mother and fetus which contributes to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. It is a multisystem disorder which can involve end organs like kidneys, liver, eyes, hemopoietic system and placenta. Retinal involvement, though quite common, is rarely investigated. It is a unique site where the blood vessels can be directly observed. Observing retinal vasculature may provide clue to status of similar vessels in other parts of body including placental circulation.

Methods

Hospital-based descriptive study which included 150 patients diagnosed as preeclampsia/eclampsia, who were admitted in the intensive care unit. Written consent was obtained from study subjects. Data were collected by history taking and examination of the subjects using pre-structured questionnaire. Ocular examination was carried out by ophthalmologist, which included anterior segment examination, visual acuity and dilated fundus examination. Multiple qualitative and quantitative parameters were studied. Data were analyzed by SPSS 14.0 software.

Results

Ocular symptoms were seen in 22% of severe preeclampsia and in 100% of eclampsia patients. Blurred vision was the most common ocular complaint. Fundus changes were seen in 48.7% total study subjects. Arteriolar narrowing was the most common finding on fundus examination. Systolic blood pressure and serum creatinine were found predictive of changes in fundus (p = .000). Incidence of fetal growth restriction was found to be significantly associated with fundus involvement (p value .000).

Conclusion

Ophthalmic examination including fundus examination should be a routine in the investigational armamentarium of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.