title: Ophthalmic artery color Doppler ultrasonography in mild-to-moderate preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the hemodynamic changes in mild-moderate preeclampsia using ophthalmic artery Doppler ultrasonography technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ophthalmic artery pulsatility and resistivity indices were calculated in 30 mild-moderate preeclamptic women and 30 normotensive gravid women of matched gestational age. Student's t-test was performed to test the significance of difference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both indices of peripheral resistance were found to be significantly lower in the ophthalmic arteries of mild-moderately preeclamptic women than those measured in normotensive gravid women at similar stage of pregnancy. In a small number patients whose disease progressed to severe preeclampsia, both indices increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with mild-moderate preeclampsia, ophthalmic artery color Doppler ultrasonography detects hemodynamic changes that are not present in normotensive gravid women. Reversal of Doppler patterns in a small number of patients with progressive disease supports the hypotheses suggesting the presence of early vasodilation and late vasospasm in the etiology of preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Goztepe SSK Hospital, Goztepe, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tunahan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ayaz
authors.forename: Gur
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akansel
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hayirlioglu
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Necdet
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suer
authors.forename: Ihsan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kuru
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color