AIM: To assess changes in the superficial retinal microvasculature of the macular and optic nerve head in patients diagnosed with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia by using optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA).

METHODS: Retrospective study. A total of 25 pregnant females diagnosed with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia in first hospital of Shanxi medical University between September 2020 and January 2021 were included in this study. The patients consisted of 10 cases with gestational hypertension, 9 cases with mild preeclampsia, and 6 cases with severe preeclampsia. Furthermore, a sample of 25 healthy pregnant females and 25 healthy non-pregnant females from our hospital during the same term was collected. OCTA was utilized to quantify the vascular density(VD)and perfusion density(PD)of the macular and optic nerve head in superficial retina. The changes of retinal microvascular parameters in the right eyes were analyzed and compared in each group.

RESULTS: Central VD, inner VD, central PD and inner PD of the macula were significantly lower in patients with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia compared to both healthy pregnant female and healthy non-pregnant female(all P<0.05). Inner PD of optic nerve head were significantly reduced in individuals with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia compared with healthy pregnant female and non-pregnant females(all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in VD and PD of the macula and optic nerve head among patients with gestational hypertension, mild preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia(all P>0.05). There were no significant differences in VD and PD of the macula and optic nerve head between healthy pregnant female and healthy non-pregnant female(all P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: OCTA is more effective in visualizing the alterations in superficial retinal microvasculature in patients with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. It has been observed that there is a reduction in VD and PD in the macula and optic nerve head even before the development of noticeable retinopathy in patients with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. OCTA can aid in the early detection of microvascular alterations in individuals with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.