Relationship between proteinuria and optical coherence tomographic features of the chorioretina in patients with pre-eclampsia

PLoS One. 2021 May 20;16(5):e0251933. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251933. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the correlation between ophthalmologic factors and proteinuria in patients with pre-eclampsia using swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography. In total, 61 pregnant patients diagnosed with pre-eclampsia were recruited during their hospital stay. The authors investigated the relationship between urine protein-creatinine ratio (PCR) and chorioretinal measurements including choroidal thickness (CT), choroidal vascularity index (CVI), foveal avascular zone (FAZ), vascular density (VD), ganglion cell layer+ (GCL+) and GCL++. The associations between mean arterial pressure (MAP) and ophthalmologic factors were also evaluated. Central subfield CT of the right eye (p = 0.031) and paracentral CT of both eyes were related to higher PCR (≥1.35 mg/mg). A significant association with PCR after logarithm transformation was noted (r = 0.284, p = 0.026). Retinal measurements (FAZ, VD, GCL+ and GCL++) and CVI were not related with PCR. There was a positive association between MAP and PCR after logarithm transformation (r = 0.296, p = 0.021); however, chorioretinal factors were not related with MAP. In pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, CT using OCT is a novel factor that is correlated with PCR. Ocular structural alteration in patients with pre-eclampsia may be one of systemic vascular changes caused by pre-eclampsia rather than hypertension.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Choroid / diagnostic imaging
  • Choroid / pathology*
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Fovea Centralis / diagnostic imaging
  • Fovea Centralis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Macula Lutea / diagnostic imaging
  • Macula Lutea / pathology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Pre-Eclampsia / diagnosis*
  • Pre-Eclampsia / diagnostic imaging
  • Pre-Eclampsia / pathology
  • Pre-Eclampsia / urine
  • Pregnancy
  • Proteinuria / urine
  • Retina / diagnostic imaging
  • Retina / pathology*
  • Retinal Vessels / diagnostic imaging
  • Retinal Vessels / pathology
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Bisa Research Grant of Keimyung University in 2019. The sponsor had no role in the design or conduct of this research. https://sanhak.kmu.ac.kr/ fund award: YCK.