[Estimation of Doppler qualitative blood flow parameters in the eyeball arteries in early pregnancy].

PURPOSE: The study was aimed to evaluate changes in Doppler blood flow indices in the eyeball arteries in women in the early stage of pregnancy compared with non pregnant woman. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Color Doppler imaging (CDI) of ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery and posterior ciliary arteries was performed in 15 health pregnant women between 6 and 9 weeks of gestation and in 13 non pregnant women. RESULTS: S/D values were statistically significantly higher in women in early pregnancy, compared with non pregnant woman. In the eyeball arteries, of both pregnant and non pregnant woman, blood flow indices were the highest in the ophthalmic artery, and decline subsequently in the central retinal artery and ciliary posterior arteries. CONCLUSIONS: Women in early pregnancy had higher values of all blood flow parameters but only values of systolic-diastolic index was statistically significant.