Analysis of ocular pulse amplitude values in different pregnancy stages as measured by dynamic contour tonometry

• Published in: CLEVER Clinical and Experimental Vision and Eye Research 2018, Vol.1 (1), p.14-17
• Main Authors: Fernandez, Luciana Arias, Siqueira Sousa, Aline Katia, Doi, Larissa Marimoto, Dorairaj, Syril, Garcia Filho, Carlos Alexandre, Paranhos, Augusto, Prata, Tiago Santos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Blood pressure; Cornea; Physiology; Pregnancy; Regression analysis; Womens health
• ISSN: 2581-656X; 2581-656X
• DOI: 10.15713/ins.clever.4

Background: Orbital circulation is influenced by systemic hormonal status. Ocular pulseamplitude (OPA) is a surrogate measurement of choroidal blood flow. We investigatedthe OPA profile during different stages of pregnancy. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: We enrolled 24 pregnant and 25 non-pregnant women (age-matchedcontrols). Methods: Data collected included age, pregnancy period, intraocular pressure (IOP),and central corneal thickness (CCT). Pascal dynamic contour tonometry was used tomeasure OPA values. The mean of three good quality measurements was used for theanalysis. Whenever both eyes were eligible, the right eye was arbitrarily selected. Main Outcome Measures: Differences in OPA values between pregnant women (ateach trimester) and non-pregnant controls. Results: Mean age and CCT were similar between pregnant women (27.8 ± 6 years, 547± 25 µm) and controls (28.9 ± 3.4 years, 546 ± 28 µm; P > 0.25). Pregnant women (meangestation period, 20.4 ± 9 weeks) had a lower mean IOP than controls (11.4 ± 2.4 vs. 13 ±2.1 mmHg; P = 0.02). Analysis of covariance (adjusting for IOP difference) revealed thatOPA values in women in the 1st (3 ± 0.6 mmHg) and 2nd trimesters (2.5 ± 0.7 mmHg)of pregnancy were increased compared to those in the last trimester (1.8 ± 0.6 mmHg)and controls (2.1 ± 0.7; P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that gestation period wasthe only variable associated with OPA values during pregnancy (r2 = 0.30, P < 0.01). Age,CCT, and IOP were not statistically significant in this model (P > 0.5). Conclusions: Our results suggest that OPA values are increased in the first twotrimesters of pregnancy, returning to normal in the last 3 months. These changes in OPAvalues seem not be influenced by age, CCT, or IOP.