Background: The ophthalmic Doppler is a reliable and impartial way to assess the severity of preeclampsia (PE). The study aimed to assess the potential utility of Doppler measurements of the maternal ophthalmic arteries during the weeks 19-23 of gestation, both independently and in combination with established biomarkers for PE. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted involving women who were recruited from a variety of standard appointments, including booking, scanning, and regular prenatal visits. A total of 200 women that were divided into high-risk and low-risk groups for developing PE were involved during the period between April 2023 and November 2023. Results: The ophthalmic ratio had significantly higher values in high-risk patients than in low-risk women (p = 0.000). There was a significant relationship between PSV2/PSV1 and gestational age at birth in women with PE compared to the ones who did not develop PE. Conclusions: An ophthalmic artery Doppler can play a crucial role in the early detection of PE, allowing for timely intervention and management. Incorporating the ophthalmic artery Doppler as a screening tool for PE in Bulgaria has the potential to improve early detection, risk stratification, and overall maternal and fetal health outcomes.
Keywords: Bulgaria; PSV2/PSV1; management; ophthalmic artery; preeclampsia.