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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

An Assay to Detect Protection of the Retinal Vasculature from Diabetes-Related Death in Mice
Published on: January 12, 2024
Diabetic retinopathy in pregnancy
Ajay Bhatnagar1, Abdul-Jabbar Ghauri, Monique Hope-Ross
1Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, City Hospital, Birmingham, B18 7QH, UK. bhatnagar_ajay@hotmail.com
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) can worsen during pregnancy due to physiological changes. This review suggests guidelines for screening and early treatment of sight-threatening DR in pregnant women.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Endocrinology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Pregnancy can trigger diabetic retinopathy (DR) development or exacerbation in diabetic women.
- Uncontrolled DR during pregnancy may lead to severe visual impairment.
- Established screening guidelines for pregnant diabetic patients are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss physiological changes during pregnancy affecting DR.
- To review risk factors contributing to DR pathology.
- To propose screening guidelines for DR in pregnant women.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of physiological changes during pregnancy impacting DR.
- Analysis of risk factors for DR progression in diabetic pregnancies.
- Synthesis of existing data to propose screening and treatment guidelines.
Main Results:
- Pregnancy-induced physiological changes can accelerate DR.
- Pre-conception screening and optimized glycemic control are crucial.
- Early treatment of sight-threatening DR is recommended in pregnant women.
Conclusions:
- Guidelines are proposed for DR screening during pregnancy.
- Pregnant women with DR require timely intervention for visual preservation.
- Optimizing pre-pregnancy care is vital for managing DR in diabetic pregnancies.
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