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

Introduction Pregnancy-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. Aim To evaluate the ocular manifestations in women affected by PIH (mild pre-eclampsia, severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia) presenting to a tertiary-level hospital. Methodology This 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. Results The mean age of the study population was 31.91 ± 4.38 years (range 21 to 39 years). The mean gestational age was 30.89 ± 3.98 weeks. Fifty-three (44.17%) were primigravida, 64 (53.33%) were multiparous, and three (2.5%) were grand multiparous. Sixty-two (51.67%) had mild pre-eclampsia, 50 (41.67%) had severe pre-eclampsia and eight (6.67%) had eclampsia. The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) recorded in the study were 155.32 ± 11.89 mmHg and 104.3 ± 11.41 mmHg respectively. Ocular symptoms were present in 43 (35.83%) participants. Blurring of vision (19.17%) was the commonest ocular symptom observed in the study population followed by photopsia (13.33%), diplopia (9.17%), intermittent loss of vision (5.83%), ocular pain (6.67%), and scotoma (1.67%). Systemic symptoms included headache (11.67%), epigastric pain (3.33%), and nausea (5%). Anterior segment findings like conjunctival congestion, lid edema, and subconjunctival hemorrhage each accounted for 1.67% of the study population. Fundal changes were present in 33.33% of cases. Arteriolar narrowing was the commonest fundal finding amounting to 15.83%, followed by arteriovenous (AV) crossing changes also in 15.83%, cotton wool spots in 5.83%, retinal haemorrhages in 8.33%, papilledema in 2.5%, and choroidal infarcts in 1.67% participants. Grade 1 hypertensive retinopathy was observed in 15.83% of participants, grade 2 in 8.33% of participants, grade 3 in 6.67% of participants and grade 4 in 2.5% of participants. The mean SBP and mean DBP were high among those with fundal changes (163.35 ± 10.25 mmHg and 111.15 ± 10.29 mmHg) compared to those without fundal changes (151.3 ± 10.58 mmHg and 100.88 ± 10.41 mmHg). This was statistically significant. Proteinuria showed significant correlation with retinal changes. Conclusion The retinal vasculature changes correlate with the severity of hypertension, hence, it is very important to seek ophthalmologic opinion for evaluation, diagnosis and prompt management of PIH.