Increased retinal vascular tortuosity in gestational diabetes mellitus

The authors report the first study which demonstrates that women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have increased tortuosity of their retinal vessels. Women with GDM underwent fundus photography and were compared with a normal control group (NC) and a pregnant nondiabetic control group (PC). Five ophthalmologists evaluated the unlabeled photographs, resulting in a combined mean prevalence of tortuosity of 21.6% NC, 24.7% PC, and 60.3% GDM. Statistical analysis showed that the GDM group was significantly different from both the NC and PC groups. Tortuosity was unrelated to acute elevation in blood glucose and was still present at 5 months postpartum.