Role of Ophthalmic Artery Doppler in The Prediction of Pre-Eclampsia At 35 – 37 Weeks of Gestation in A Tertiary Care Center

Background: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity worldwide. Early detection and management are essential for reducing associated risks. Traditional methods of diagnosing PE, including blood pressure measurement and proteinuria assessment, are limited, especially when the disease progresses in the late third trimester. This study explores the utility of ophthalmic artery Doppler ultrasonography as a predictive tool for pre-eclampsia between 35-37 weeks of gestation. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in the Department of Radiodiagnosis at BGS GIMS Hospital, Bangalore. The study included women at 35-37 weeks of gestation who were considered at high risk for pre-eclampsia due to factors such as a history of hypertension, prior pre-eclampsia, multiple gestations, or advanced maternal age. A total of 200 participants were included in this study. Ophthalmic artery Doppler ultrasonography was performed with color and pulsed Doppler capabilities. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 21). Results: On assessing the baseline parameters, BMI was found to be similar in preeclampsia and non preeclampsia group. However, previous hypertension, advanced maternal age and multiple gestation were linked with the presence of preeclampsia. Among the ophthalmic artery Doppler indices, the systolic/diastolic ratio, resistance index, and pulsatility index differs remarkably with the presence of preeclampsia with premising AUC values. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that ophthalmic artery Doppler indices—mean S/D ratio, mean RI and mean PI remarkably differs with the presence of preeclampsia.—can provide valuable insights into the prediction of PE in the late third trimester, offering a non-invasive, reliable method for early detection