Ocular Manifestations in Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension at a Tertiary Level Hospital in Karnataka, India

Abstract

IntroductionPregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a hypertensive disorder in pregnancy that occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy in the absence of previously known hypertension.PIH is a common and serious complication accompanying pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are multisystem disorders that can involve end organs like kidneys, liver, eyes, haematopoietic system and placenta. Though ocular involvement is not uncommon in PIH, ocular examination is not always done in all cases of PIH. Timely detection of changes in retinal vasculature can be a hint to the underlying changes in the vascular system of the various end organs of the human body including placental circulation. Adequate management of PIH is very important for both fetal and maternal well-being. AimTo evaluate the ocular manifestations in women affected by PIH (mild pre-eclampsia, severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia) presenting to a tertiary-level hospital. MethodologyThis was a hospital-based cross-sectional study carried out for a period of one year at a tertiary-level hospital. A total of 120 subjects diagnosed as cases of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia admitted to the eclampsia ward of the obstetric unit formed the study population. After taking history, a detailed ocular examination was done for all patients and the findings were noted.