Vascular retinal pathology in women with preeclampsia and its combination with chronic arterial hypertension

Abstract

Aim. To investigate the incidence and structure of vascular retinal pathologies in women with preeclampsia and its combination with chronic arterial hypertension (AH).Methods. A total of 231 medical records of women with different pregnancy histories were studied by consecutive sampling. The first experimental group comprised women (n = 47) diagnosed with preeclampsia combined with chronic AH. The second experimental group comprised women (n = 48) with preeclampsia developed during pregnancy. The first comparison group included women with pregnancy-associated gestational AH. The second comparison group included women with edema and proteinuria during pregnancy but without AH. The control group consisted of women (n = 50) with normal pregnancy histories. The postpartum period ranged from 6 to 12 years.Results. The development of vascular retinal pathologies during the postpartum period occurred in 28 women in the general sample (12%). Retinal vein occlusions predominated in the structure of vascular retinal pathology (19 women, 19 eyes). Proliferative retinopathy was detected in 8 patients (8 eyes). In one case, a central retinal artery occlusion developed.Conclusions. The incidence of vascular retinal pathologies in the 1st and 2nd experimental groups comprised 21% and 25% respectively, which was statistically significantly higher than that in the control, 1st and 2nd comparison groups (4%, 4%, and 6% respectively, p < 0.01). The revealed significantly higher incidence of vascular retinal pathology in both experimental groups indicates the domineering role of preeclampsia and AH-associated pre-eclampsia in the development of vascular retinal pathologies.