Investigation of Ocular Ultrasonography Efficiency in Increased Intracranial Pressure in Patients With Severe Preeclampsia

Leila Dinparast Saleh, Mojtaba Abdollahi, Shabnam Vazifekhah

Abstract

Background and Aim: Preeclampsia is a serious condition in pregnancy. This study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of ocular ultrasonography in assessing the increase in intracranial pressure in patients with severe preeclampsia.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 70 pregnant women were included, comprising 35 women with preeclampsia and 35 healthy controls. Eye ultrasounds before and 1 day postdelivery were performed by a radiologist, and optic nerve sheath diameter (OSND) and optic disc height (ODH) were measured in all individuals.

Results and Discussion: Pregnant women with preeclampsia had a higher ODH than pregnant women in the healthy control group (P > .05). The mean ODH and ONSD in these women decreased after delivery (P > .05), although the differences were not statistically significant. The ONSD of the right (r = 0.47, P = .009) and left (r = 0.49, P = . 005) eyes increased significantly with increases in systolic blood pressure (right eye: 0.29, P = .11; left eye: 0.26, P = .15).

Conclusion: Women with preeclampsia have significantly higher ONSD compared with healthy pregnant women. The difference between ODH and ONSD in patients with preeclampsia before and 1 day after delivery was not significant.