David Tabibian1, Begoña M de Tejada2, Zisis Gatzioufas1, Sabine Kling3, Vanessa S Meiss1, Marc-Olivier Boldi4, Véronique Othenin-Girard5, Antonina Chilin5, Julien Lambiel1, Florence Hoogewoud1, Farhad Hafezi6. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 2. Obstetrics Service, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 3. Department of Ophthalmology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Center for Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine (CABMM), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. 4. Research Center for Statistics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 5. Obstetrics Service, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 6. Center for Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine (CABMM), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; ELZA Institute, Dietikon, Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Ophthalmology, USC Roski Eye Institute, USC Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Electronic address: farhad@hafezi.ch.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To identify biomechanical and topographic changes of the cornea during pregnancy and the postpartum period and its association to hormonal changes. DESIGN: Prospective single-center observational cohort study. METHODS: Participants were 24 pregnant women (48 eyes), monitored throughout pregnancy and after delivery. Biomechanical and topographic corneal properties were measured using the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) and a Scheimpflug imaging system (Pentacam HR) each trimester and 1 month after delivery. At the same consultations blood plasma levels of estradiol (E2) and thyroid hormones (TSH, T3t, T4t) were also determined. A factorial MANCOVA was used to detect interactions between hormonal plasma levels and ocular parameters. RESULTS: Significant differences in corneal biomechanical and topographic parameters were found during pregnancy in relation to T3t (p = .01), T4t (p < .001), T3t/T4t (P = .001), and TSH (p = .001) plasma levels. E2 plasma levels (p = .092) and time period of measurement (p = .975) did not significantly affect corneal parameters. TSH levels significantly affected the maximal keratometry reading (p = .036), the vertical keratometry reading (p = .04), and the index of height asymmetry (p = .014). Those results persist after excluding hypothyroidism patients from the statistical analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Hormonal changes affecting corneal biomechanics and topography during pregnancy could be thyroid related. Dysthyroidism may directly influence corneal biomechanics and represents a clinically relevant factor that needs further investigation.
PURPOSE: To identify biomechanical and topographic changes of the cornea during pregnancy and the postpartum period and its association to hormonal changes. DESIGN: Prospective single-center observational cohort study. METHODS:Participants were 24 pregnant women (48 eyes), monitored throughout pregnancy and after delivery. Biomechanical and topographic corneal properties were measured using the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) and a Scheimpflug imaging system (Pentacam HR) each trimester and 1 month after delivery. At the same consultations blood plasma levels of estradiol (E2) and thyroid hormones (TSH, T3t, T4t) were also determined. A factorial MANCOVA was used to detect interactions between hormonal plasma levels and ocular parameters. RESULTS: Significant differences in corneal biomechanical and topographic parameters were found during pregnancy in relation to T3t (p = .01), T4t (p < .001), T3t/T4t (P = .001), and TSH (p = .001) plasma levels. E2 plasma levels (p = .092) and time period of measurement (p = .975) did not significantly affect corneal parameters. TSH levels significantly affected the maximal keratometry reading (p = .036), the vertical keratometry reading (p = .04), and the index of height asymmetry (p = .014). Those results persist after excluding hypothyroidismpatients from the statistical analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Hormonal changes affecting corneal biomechanics and topography during pregnancy could be thyroid related. Dysthyroidism may directly influence corneal biomechanics and represents a clinically relevant factor that needs further investigation.
Authors: Paulina Escandon; Sarah E Nicholas; Rebecca L Cunningham; David A Murphy; Kamran M Riaz; Dimitrios Karamichos Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2022-01-14 Impact factor: 5.923