The Relationship Between the Severity of Hypertensive Disorders During Pregnancy and a Number of Ultrasonic Optic Nerve Parameters

Background. Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy remain one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. These conditions require timely diagnosis to prevent severe cerebral complications.

The aim of the study was to determine the nature of the relationship between the severity of hypertensive disorders in pregnant women and sonographic changes in optic nerve parameters.

Materials and methods. 80 pregnant women were examined, divided into 4 study groups: patients with normal pregnancy (n = 20), with gestational hypertension (n = 20), moderate (n = 25) and severe preeclampsia (n = 15). A comprehensive ophthalmological examination was performed, including ultrasound optic nerve examination with the determination of scleral canal diameter (SCD), optic disc height (ODH), optic nerve diameter (OND) and optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD).

Results. А direct relationship of noticeable strength was found between ODH with OND, as well as with ONSD. An inverse correlation of noticeable strength between ODH and SCD has been revealed. With ODH >0.5 mm and OND >2.6 mm, the risk of developing severe preeclampsia increases by more than 2.5 times. With ONSD >5.7 mm, the risk of developing severe preeclampsia increases by more than 7 times.

Conclusion. A close relationship has been established between ultrasound parameters of the optic nerve and the risk of preeclampsia. ODH has a direct relationship with ONSD and OND. The discovered inverse relationship between ODH and SCD limits the isolated use of ultrasound values of ODH as an instrumental marker of preeclampsia severity.

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