The study of relation between pre-eclampsia and retinal disorders using electroretinography

Pre-eclampsia is a systemic disorder which is associated with hypertension and proteinuria and may develop from 20 weeks of gestation. Pre-eclampsia affects different organs of the body. The present study is an attempt to check the effect of pre-eclampsia on retina using electroretinography.

A total of 82 pregnant subjects divided in 2 groups (41 normal pregnant subjects as control and 41 pre-eclampsia pregnant patients as case group). The total population was undergone electroretinographic examination in Qods center. ERG is a technique to examine the retina. Latency and amplitude of b wave of ERG were recorded and compared in 2 groups.

The results showed no statistically significant difference between the age of the two groups (p>0.05 for 24.56±3.5 in control and 25.33±3.9 in case group). Mean latency and standard deviation of ERG b wave in control and case groups were 128.77±24.85 and 125.10±22.56 msec, respectively. Mean amplitude and standard deviation of ERG wave in control and case groups were 43.27±2.3 and 43.44±2.7 µr, respectively. Therefore no significant difference (p >0.05) was obtained in two groups.

It was concluded that pre-eclampsia had no adverse effect on retina and more research is needed to perform to reach a certain conclusion.