Key result
Choroidal thickness increased significantly in healthy pregnant females compared to controls, but decreased significantly in high-risk pregnant females with gestational diabetes or hypertension.
Why the study?
Pregnancy-induced increases in blood volume and cardiac output affect ocular blood flow, but choroidal changes across healthy and high-risk pregnancies remained to be evaluated.
Does choroidal thickness change in healthy pregnancy and high-risk pregnancy (GDM, GH) compared to non-pregnant women?
Observational (n=90)
Does choroidal thickness change in healthy pregnancy and high-risk pregnancy (GDM, GH) compared to non-pregnant women?
Choroidal thickness increases in healthy pregnancy but decreases in high-risk pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes or hypertension.
May reflect vascular adaptations in pregnancy; hypothesis-generating for choroidal imaging in obstetric risk stratification.
Background: During pregnancy, various physiological changes occur in almost all organs of the body including the eyes. Increased blood volume and cardiac output results in ocular blood flow increase. Consequently, the choroid is a highly vascular tissue; any local or systemic pathology affecting the vasculature could also affect the choroid. Objective: The aim of the study was to report and evaluate choroidal changes in healthy pregnant women, pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and pregnant women with gestational hypertension (GH) and to compare the measured parameters with those of healthy non-pregnant women. Patients and Methods: This prospective comparative study comprised 180 eyes of 90 women divided into 4 groups; Group 1(control): 30 healthy non-pregnant females, Group 2 (Low risk pregnancy): 30 healthy pregnant females ≥ 24 weeks of gestation, Group 3 and 4 (high risk pregnancy): each consisted of 15 pregnant females ≥ 24 weeks of gestation with GDM or GH. All four groups were age-matched. Choroidal thickness (CT) was measured using enhanced depth imaging spectral domain optical coherence tomography at seven different locations. Results: CT increased significantly in healthy pregnant females (third trimester) compared to control group and decreased significantly in high risk pregnant females compared to healthy pregnant and non-pregnant females. Conclusion: Reporting changes in CT during pregnancy may give valuable data to interpret pregnancy-related ocular pathologies.
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Mohammed et al. (2019) conducted an observational in Pregnancy, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Gestational Hypertension (n=90). Pregnancy (healthy and high-risk) vs. Healthy non-pregnant women was evaluated on Choroidal thickness at seven different locations. Choroidal thickness increased significantly in healthy pregnant females compared to controls, but decreased significantly in high-risk pregnant females with gestational diabetes or hypertension.
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