Doppler velocimetry of the orbital vessels in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia.

Hypertension is one of the most common clinical complications during pregnancy. Preeclampsia, in particular, still accounts for high maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Hemodynamic studies have shown that general arteriolar vasoconstriction, which leads to hypoperfusion of target organs, including the eye area, remains the most significant pathological change in preeclampsia. Color Doppler imaging is the most appropriate and the commonly used method for the study of ocular circulation, especially during pregnancy. It enables the visualization and flow measurement of retrobulbar blood vessels. The aim of this review is to evaluate studies that investigated the role of Doppler velocimetry of the maternal orbital vessels, especially the ophthalmic artery, as a tool for the differential diagnosis of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, for the assessment of the degree and severity of preeclampsia, and for the prediction of these disturbances. The analysis of these studies indicates that the Doppler variables are accurate in the differential diagnosis of hypertensive disorders and in assessing the severity and progression of the preeclampsia and may also be useful markers in the treatment and management of pregnancy-induced hypertension. We found no study evaluating the role of orbital vessels Doppler variables in predicting preeclampsia or in the prognosis of maternal-fetal adverse events.