Abstract

FUNDOSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF RETINA: AN OPPORTUNITY NOT TO BE MISSED IN PREECLAMPSIA

Shaista Rashid*, Zaira Batool and Shazia Naseeb

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Abstract

Background: Preeclampsia is multisystem disorder causes morbidity and mortality in obstetrics in the world. It can involve cardiovascular system, hematologic, renal, liver abnormalities, ocular and neurological manifestations. Objective: To determine frequency of retinal changes in women with preeclampsia and observe association between retinal changes and blood pressure, proteinuria and severity of the disease. Method: This Cross sectional study was conducted from June 2019 to May 2020 at Gynae & Obst department at Abbasi Shaheed hospital. Eighty preeclamptic females were selected. Fundosocpy was done to observe retinal changes according to Keith Wagener classification into Grade I to Grad IV. Percentages and frequencies were calculated for demographic variables. The association of frequency of retinal changes and blood pressure, proteinuria was calculated by using chi square test with P value less than 0.05 as significant. Result: In our study most of female (83.75%) had normal fundoscopy, while 16.25 % had retinal changes. The most common retinal changes noted is grade I (12.50 %) followed by grade II (3.75%). There was significant association between retinal changes, symptoms, blood pressure, proteinuria and severity of preeclampsia (p value-0.000). Conclusion: This study highlights the retinal changes in preeclampsia and significant association found between retinal changes blood pressure, proteinuria and severity of preeclampsia. Therefore fundoscopic examination of eye is an excellent choice for direct assessment of micro vascular changes in pregnancy.

Keywords: Fundoscopy, Preeclampsia, Retinal changes.