TITLE:
Retinal Vessels Diameter Changes during Pregnancy in Type 1 Diabetes
AUTHORS:
Aurore Mensah, Afrouz Ahmadzadeh, Ann-Sofie Svanbom, Lene Ringholm, Birgit Sander, Henrik Lund-Andersen, Elisabeth Mathiesen, Michael Larsen
KEYWORDS:
Pregnancy and Diabetes Type 1; Diabetic Retinopathy; Central Retinal Artery Equivalent; Central Retinal Vein Equivalent.
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ophthalmology,
Vol.3 No.2,
May
14,
2013
ABSTRACT: Objective: Investigate how pregnancy-induced hormonal and hemodynamic changes affect
retinal vessels caliber dynamic and the course of diabetic retinopathy. Methods: Retinopathy grading and vessel diameter
measurement using digital fundus photographs in women with diabetes type 1
taken no more than one year before conception, during week 10 and/or 22, week
34, and within one year after delivery. Calibers were measured using a custom-developed
semi-automated computer algorithm which identified the six largest
arteries and six largest veins and calculated the central retinal artery
equivalent (CRAE) and central vein equivalent (CRVE) diameters. Glycemic
control was assessed quarterly by HbA1c. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was assessed
at week 10, 22 and 34. Results: Photographs at
baseline, weeks 10, 22, 34 and after delivery were available in 28 patients, of
whom 24 did not progress in retinopathy. For those whose level of retinopathy
remained stable CRAE constricted from 138.80 ± 21.27 μm
at baseline to 129.88 ± 13.97 μm at week 10 (p = 0.0379) CRVE constricted from
195.16 ± 24.98 μm at baseline to 185.97 ± 21.96 μm at week 10 (p = 0.0400).
The patients with retinopathy progression had a CRAE of 131.67 ± 13.37 μm at
baseline and 132.08 ± 11.07 μm at week 10 (p = 0.34) while CRVE was 195.33 ± 24.92
μm at baseline and 204.27 ± 10.18 μm at week 10 (p = 0.16). Progressors had
higher blood pressures at week 10. Conclusion: Retinal vessels constricted between prepregnancy
and first trimester in women who did not experience diabetic retinopathy progression.
The study suggests that the vessels constriction seen in early pregnancy
contributes to reduce the risk of gestational microvascular complications
and progression of diabetes in the eye.