Exploratory Associations Between Retinal Parameters and Selected Systemic Markers in Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy.
- 1Eye School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
- 2Department of Ophthalmology, Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to explore associations between retinal parameters and selected systemic markers in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP).Methods
Retinal imaging was used to measure vessel diameter/tortuosity and thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and retina in participants. Uric acid (UA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), 24-hour urine protein levels, and mean ocular perfusion pressure (MOPP) were assessed. Intergroup comparisons were performed using 1-way analysis of variance/nonparametric tests; correlations were analyzed using linear regression.Results
In total, 150 pregnant women were included: 87 normotensive controls, 32 with gestational hypertension (GH), and 31 with preeclampsia (PE). Across groups, arteriolar diameter decreased, temporal venular diameter and inferonasal arteriolar tortuosity increased (P < 0.001), and inferotemporal venular tortuosity decreased (P = 0.017). Nasal RNFL thickness increased (P < 0.001), with nonsignificant changes in other quadrants. No significant trends were noted for retinal thickness. MOPP interacted with nasal RNFL thickness (P < 0.05), but not with retinal thickness. The 24-hour urine protein and UA were associated with superotemporal venular and arteriolar diameters, respectively. MOPP was associated with inferotemporal, superonasal, and inferonasal arteriolar diameters, inferonasal arteriolar tortuosity, and central retinal arteriolar equivalent (P < 0.05). AST was not significantly associated with any retinal parameter.Conclusions
UA and 24-hour urine protein were associated with retinal vascular parameters, whereas AST was not significantly associated with any retinal parameter. These exploratory associations warrant prospective validation.
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BibTeX
@article{li2026exploratory,
title = {{Exploratory Associations Between Retinal Parameters and Selected Systemic Markers in Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy.}},
author = {Jialing Li and Wenyuan Jian and Jian Huo and Fuwen Zhang},
journal = {Investigative ophthalmology \& visual science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1167/iovs.67.12.80},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42961305},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Exploratory Associations Between Retinal Parameters and Selected Systemic Markers in Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy.
AU - Jialing Li
AU - Wenyuan Jian
AU - Jian Huo
AU - Fuwen Zhang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Investigative ophthalmology & visual science
DO - 10.1167/iovs.67.12.80
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42961305
AB - Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore associations between retinal parameters and selected systemic markers in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP).Methods Retinal imaging was used to measure vessel diameter/tortuosity and thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and retina in participants. Uric acid (UA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), 24-hour urine protein levels, and mean ocular perfusion pressure (MOPP) were assessed. Intergroup comparisons were performed using 1-way analysis of variance/nonparametric tests; correlations were analyzed using linear regression.Results In total, 150 pregnant women were included: 87 normotensive controls, 32 with gestational hypertension (GH), and 31 with preeclampsia (PE). Across groups, arteriolar diameter decreased, temporal venular diameter and inferonasal arteriolar tortuosity increased (P < 0.001), and inferotemporal venular tortuosity decreased (P = 0.017). Nasal RNFL thickness increased (P < 0.001), with nonsignificant changes in other quadrants. No significant trends were noted for retinal thickness. MOPP interacted with nasal RNFL thickness (P < 0.05), but not with retinal thickness. The 24-hour urine protein and UA were associated with superotemporal venular and arteriolar diameters, respectively. MOPP was associated with inferotemporal, superonasal, and inferonasal arteriolar diameters, inferonasal arteriolar tortuosity, and central retinal arteriolar equivalent (P < 0.05). AST was not significantly associated with any retinal parameter.Conclusions UA and 24-hour urine protein were associated with retinal vascular parameters, whereas AST was not significantly associated with any retinal parameter. These exploratory associations warrant prospective validation.
SN - 0146-0404
SN - 1552-5783
ER -