Assessment of the choroidal structure in pregnant women in the first trimester

Abstract

We investigated the anatomical differences in the choroidal structure between pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy and age-matched healthy nonpregnant women using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) and choroidal binarization analysis. The main parameters measured in the two study groups, namely, pregnant women in the first trimester and healthy nonpregnant women, were choroidal thickness and the choroidal luminal area. Binarization of the EDI-OCT images from each patient was performed, and the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) was calculated. The correlations between the baseline characteristics of the subjects and the CVI were investigated using linear mixed model analysis. As a result, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean age, best-corrected visual acuity, axial length, central retinal thickness, subfoveal choroidal thickness, systolic blood pressure (BP), or diastolic BP between the two study groups. Conversely, a significant difference was observed in the CVI (P = 0.012) between the two groups. The multivariate analysis identified a significant correlation between the CVI and the systolic BP (P = 0.0044, linear mixed test). Taken together, a larger choroidal luminal area was associated with a higher systolic BP, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. Our findings may provide further insight into the choroidal changes that occur during pregnancy.

Association between serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 and the central choroidal thickness during pregnancy: a prospective study

“… 14 Our previous study has suggested that the CVI was higher during the first trimester of pregnancy compared with healthy control participants, and that it was positively associated with SBP. 10 However, this study revealed no significant association between the CVI and SBP throughout pregnancy. This discrepancy may be due to the fact that some participants with pre-eclampsia could not undergo OCT measurement and blood sampling in late pregnancy because of premature birth.…”

“…Using the binarisation technique, we recently investigated the choroidal structure during the first trimester of pregnancy. 10 Our results showed that in the first trimester of pregnancy, the Choroidal Vascular Index (CVI) was higher compared with that of the non-pregnant women in the control group. In contrast, the CCT was not significantly different between the pregnant and control groups.…”

Vascular Choroidal Alterations in Uncomplicated Third-Trimester Pregnancy

“…In the choroid, the flow per perfused volume is the highest of any other human tissue, and the choroidal vessels and capillaries contain about 85% of the overall ocular blood flow [ 19 ]. Therefore, its anatomy is mainly driven by ocular blood flow, which previous studies have shown to be altered in pregnant women [ 20 , 21 ]. Kara et al reported the choroid to be significantly thicker (about 35 µm) in pregnant women than in the non-pregnant controls [ 22 ].…”

“…Kara et al reported the choroid to be significantly thicker (about 35 µm) in pregnant women than in the non-pregnant controls [ 22 ]. Correspondingly, Azuma et al evaluated the subfoveal choroidal vascularity index, which was significantly higher in the pregnancy group [ 20 ]. By contrast, in the current study, the SFCT was significantly thinner in pregnant women.…”

Macular and Peripapillary Choroidal Thickness Measured by Enhanced Depth Imaging Optical Coherence Tomography in Chinese Pregnant Women and Healthy No-Pregnant Women

“…No signi cant correlations was found between the subfoveal, temporal, nasal choroidal thickness and CMT(all P>0.05). pregnant and non-pregnant women [15,16]. Only the pregnant women in the rst or third trimester were enrolled in their study might attribute to this contradictory results.…”