DOPPLER EXAMINATION OF BOTH THE OPHTHALMIC AND CENTRAL RETINAL ARTERIES IN PREGNANCY - METHODOLOGIC CONCERNS

Objectives: (1) To assess interobserver and intraobserver variations i n the Doppler ultrasound examination of the ophthalmic and central ret inal arteries, and (2) to compare the measurements obtained from the l eft eye with those obtained from the right. Methods: To assess intraob server variation, pulsed Doppler examinations were performed by one ob server on three consecutive occasions on both the ophthalmic and centr al retinal arteries in 10 patients. For the assessment of interobserve r variation, the examinations were performed on 16 volunteers by two o bservers in a random fashion. In order to compare Doppler measurements from the right and left eyes, 126 pregnant women had the two vessels studied in both eyes. Results: There was no statistically significant (alpha = 0.05) interobserver or intraobserver variation. There was a s tatistically significant difference (P < 0.05) in the measurement obta ined from the two eyes. Conclusions: Doppler examination of both the o phthalmic and the central retinal arteries is a reproducible technique . There was a statistically significant difference between right and l eft eyes. By answering some of the methodologic questions, the use of this technique in the evaluation of pregnancy-induced hypertension can now be further explored.