Analysis of clinical progression of diabetic retinopathy in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes

Abstract

This article presents clinical cases of progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. The manifestation of pre-proliferative DR was related to the formation of focal macular edema in both eyes with nonperfusion areas of perimacular localization. Both eyes underwent laser coagulation of the retina. Following one month, the regression of macular edema in the left eye and hemorrhagic phenomena in both eyes with the appearance of new nonperfusion areas were observed. DR progression during pregnancy and in the postpartum period is determined by a number of factors, including compensation for diabetes mellitus, stabilization of retinopathy, and the presence of concomitant pathologies. In the aggressive course of proliferative DR, local traction retinal detachment and partial hemophthalmos of the left eye were revealed. Three stages of panretinal laser coagulation of both eyes were conducted, along with an endovitreal intervention with silicone tamponade on the left eye. At 28 weeks of gestation, progression of retinal neovascularization with extensive areas of nonperfusion in the posterior pole was observed in the right eye. Compaction of the laser coagulation areas of the retina in the right eye was performed.