A comparative study of fundus changes in hypertensive and normotensive pregnant females in third trimester at tertiary care centre

This study from a tertiary-care center compares the retinal changes in hypertensive and normotensive pregnant women in the third trimester to bring out the correlation between fundus changes, PIH, and relevant laboratory markers. This study was a cross-sectional one, conducted in AIIMS Delhi from July 2021 to June 2022, with an inclusion of 60 cases of hypertensive pregnant women and 60 normotensive pregnant women. Fundus examination through indirect ophthalmoscopy presented normal retinal findings in all the normotensive women. The hypertensive women, however showed marked retinal changes ranging from Grades I-IV retinopathy and these were noted to be associated with varied severities of PIH. Laboratory abnormalities such as low platelet counts, proteinuria, and poor liver and renal function showed significant correlation with severe retinal grades. From pre-severe eclampsia to eclampsia, the severity of retinopathy increased with the progression of PIH. Combining retinal screening with laboratory monitoring can detect and rectify difficulties and thus improve outcomes both for the mother and the foetus; the findings are therefore important in this regard.