[Progression of diabetic retinopathy during pregnancy: a retrospective analysis of a series of 77 consecutive patients].

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to assess diabetic retinopathy progression during pregnancy and to determine the predictive factors of this progression.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Monocentric retrospective study including 77 consecutive diabetic women submitted to a multidisciplinary medical follow-up during pregnancy with at least one ophthalmologic examination per trimester with ocular fundus photographs.

RESULTS

Diabetic retinopathy was evidenced in 21 (27.3%) of the patients during the first trimester (no proliferative form), in 22 women (28.6%) during the second (two proliferative forms), and 24 (31.2%) during the third (two proliferative forms). Progression of at least 1 grade was evidenced in four patients from the first to the second trimester, in three from the second to the third, and finally in seven patients during the overall follow-up period. Two patients showed progression to a proliferative form from the first to the second quarter. We failed to identify any predictive factor of diabetic retinopathy progression except when combining prior systemic hypertension and pregnancy-induced hypertension (p<0.03).

CONCLUSION

The results of our study confirm that diabetic retinopathy progression is uncommon during pregnancy, especially if diabetic retinopathy is absent or mild at the beginning. Optimal blood sugar levels and blood pressure check-ups play a major role in preventing diabetic retinopathy progression. Collaborative medical follow-up can minimize ophthalmologic impairment during pregnancy.