Ganglion cell layer as a novel biomarker for adverse outcome in high-risk pregnancy

Author: Joel Hanhart (Israel)

Co-authors: Yishay Weill, Lauren Wasser, David Zadok, Sorina Grisaro-Granovsky, Hen Sela, Tehila Avitan

Purpose

To determine whether specific retinal layers are associated with adverse outcome in high-risk pregnancies.

Setting/Venue

This prospective study was conducted between January 9 2017 and May 14 2018 at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, a tertiary hospital. Included were women followed in the maternal fetal medicine unit at Shaare Zedek Medical Center. All participants were between 18-45-years of age, over 24 weeks of gestation, with a singleton pregnancy and without a history of chronic hypertension.

Methods

We performed swept-source OCT macular examinations and measured selective layers at different regions of the macula on 32 pregnant women.. Adverse obstetrical outcome was defined as any of the following: preterm delivery, pre-eclampsia, pregnancy induced hypertension, elevated liver function tests, thrombocytopenia and need for magnesium to treat severe pre-eclampsia.

Results

In the group defined by any adverse outcome, that comprised 17 patients (34 eyes, 53%), the inner superior ganglion cell layer was found to be thinner than in patients without adverse outcome (83.9±6.9 vs. 88.6±6.1 μm; P=0.04) This association was retrieved when considering all inner superior (287.5±39.1 vs. 300.8.2±12.7 μm; P=0.03) and inferior retinal layers (287.8±13.9 vs. 297.7±17.1 μm; P=0.03) as well as total macular volume (7.58±0.30 vs. 7.75±0.30 mm3; P=0.02).

Conlusions

The macular ganglion cell layer can be used as a biomarker in pregnancy: specific thinning of this layer is associated with adverse pregnancy outcome.

Financial Disclosure

N/A

Comments

-