ELECTROPHYSIOLOGIC MONITORING OF DIABETIC-RETINOPATHY IN PREGNANCY

The authors studied the correlations between electroretinographic, oph thalmologic, and clinical parameters in 30 pregnant women (20 with dia betes and 10 control subjects). Diabetic patients were divided into tw o groups: group 1 included 11 cases of insulin-dependent diabetes (IDD M); and group 2 included 6 cases of noninsulin-dependent diabetes (NID DM) and 3 cases of gestational diabetes (GDM). Adaptoelectroretinograp hy (AERG) was used as the main monitoring parameter, and in particular , the relationship between the cone-mediated (b1) and rod-mediated (b2 ) components of the b wave (b2/b1 ratio) 7 minutes after photobleachin g was studied. The results indicate that the b2/b1 ratio can detect fu nctional modifications before the onset of ophthalmoscopically detecta ble retinopathy. Significant statistical correlations were demonstrate d both between the type of diabetes and AERG responses, and between me tabolic control (HbA1c values) and AERG alterations. A higher maternof etal complication rate in those patients with severe and frequent AERG alterations during pregnancy also was found.