Influence of pregnancy on diabetic retinopathy

A prospective study of the influence of pregnancy on diabetic retinopathy was started at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen in 1979. At present 145 women with insulin-dependent diabetes have been included. Preliminarily, it seems that women belonging to White classes B and C do not develop persistent retinopathy as a consequence of pregnancy. Women with retinopathy at the onset of pregnancy deteriorate in 50% of the cases, but post-partum regression is common. Development of proliferative changes is exceptional, and proliferations developed during pregnancy in most cases disappear spontaneously after delivery. Consequently, treatment with photocoagulation during pregnancy and in the early post-partum period should be restricted. Close ophthalmological supervision during pregnancy is essential and the ophthalmologist must be aware of the spontaneous course of diabetic retinopathy in relation to pregnancy.