Maternal ophthalmic artery Doppler velocimetry in normotensive pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders.
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to compare maternal ophthalmic artery pulsatility index values in normotensive pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders.


METHODS
The ophthalmic artery in 17 normotensive nonpregnant women, 29 normotensive pregnant women, 9 patients with mild preeclampsia, 6 with severe preeclampsia, 6 with transient hypertension, and 9 with chronic hypertension was studied with color Doppler flow imaging and pulsed Doppler ultrasonography. The mean arterial blood pressure and the ophthalmic artery pulsatility index were calculated in each group.


RESULTS
The pulsatility index (1.17 +/- 0.08) in severe preeclampsia was lowest among the groups p < 0.05), whereas that (2.92 +/- 0.59) in normotensive pregnant women was highest among the groups (p < 0.05). The pulsatility index (1.47 +/- 0.30) in mild preeclampsia was significantly lower than that (1.89 +/- 0.27) in transient hypertension (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in pulsatility index between mild preeclampsia and chronic hypertension (1.69 +/- 0.49) or between transient hypertension and chronic hypertension. The pulsatility index inversely correlated well with the mean arterial blood pressure (R2 = 0.645, p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the lower pulsatility index should be interpreted as orbital vascular vasodilation, indicating orbital hyperperfusion or hyperemia. Changes in pulsatility index in the ophthalmic artery may be indicative of similar changes in other cerebral vessels.
Hata
T
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan.
Hata
K
K
Moritake
K
K
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow