Doppler Indices of the Ophthalmic Artery in Pregnant Women With Pregestational Diabetes Mellitus With and Without Retinopathy

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate ophthalmic Doppler velocimetry patterns in pregnant women with pregestational diabetes mellitus with and without retinopathy in comparison to pregnant women without gestational intercurrences. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study analyzed Doppler indices of the ophthalmic arteries, including the resistive index (RI), pulsatility index, peak systolic velocity, second peak systolic velocity, peak ratio, and end-diastolic velocity (EDV), in 3 groups of pregnant women: diabetic with retinopathy (n = 12); diabetic without retinopathy (n = 85); and nondiabetic controls (n = 122). The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for the statistical analysis with a probability of 95%. Results: The mean gestational ages ± SDs of pregnant women with and without retinopathy and nondiabetic controls were 29.1 ± 2.2, 29.7 ± 2.7, and 31 ± 1.0 weeks, respectively, with no significant differences between the groups (P >.099). The mean RI in the group with retinopathy was significantly higher (P =.030) than in the control group, but it did not significantly differ compared to the group without retinopathy (P =.204). The RI in the control group did not differ from that in the group without retinopathy (P =.079). The EDV was significantly lower in the group with retinopathy (P =.015) in relation to the control group, but there were no differences compared to the group without retinopathy (P =.217). Conclusions: Pregnant women with pregestational diabetes mellitus and retinopathy had increased vascular impedance in the ophthalmic artery together with a reduction in the EDV, which was probably related to ischemia, thrombosis, and neovascularization of retinal vessels.