Vascular Choroidal Alterations in Uncomplicated Third-Trimester Pregnancy

Abstract

(1) Purpose: To evaluate the anatomy and perfusion of choroidal substructures in third-trimester pregnant women using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) imaging. (2) Methods: In this cross-sectional study, women in their third trimester of uncomplicated pregnancy and non-pregnant age-matched women were recruited. Participants underwent enhanced depth imaging (EDI) OCT and OCTA. Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), as well as choroidal sublayer perfusion, were compared between groups. (3) Results: In total, 26 eyes of 26 pregnant and 26 eyes of 26 non-pregnant women were included. The median age in both groups was 29 years. The median SFCT was 332 (211-469) µm in the pregnant group and 371.5 (224-466) µm in the non-pregnant cohort (<i>p</i> = 0.018). The median choriocapillaris perfusion (CCP) was significantly lower in the pregnant group (46% vs. 48%, <i>p</i> = 0.039). Moreover, Haller's layer perfusion correlated significantly with mean arterial pressure in non-pregnant women (CC = 0.430, <i>p</i> = 0.028) but not in pregnant ones (CC = 0.054, <i>p</i> = 0.792). (4) Conclusions: SFCT was found to be thinner and CCP was lower in third-trimester pregnant women. Hormonal changes during pregnancy and consecutive impacts on autoregulation of small choroidal vessels might play an important role. Therefore, altered choroidal measurements during third-trimester pregnancy should be carefully evaluated as, to some extent, it could be a normal physiological change.