Shear wave elastography combined with two‐dimensional ultrasonography for detecting optic nerve sheath: An effective tool for assessing preeclampsia

Purpose/Objective

This study aimed to investigate two‐dimensional ultrasound and shear‐wave elastography (SWE) in evaluating optic neuropathy in preeclampsia.

Methods

Ninety‐one singleton pregnant women (51 with preeclampsia [observation group]; 40 without complications [control group]) admitted between January 2022 and April 2022 participated in this study.

Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and optic nerve stiffness measurement (ONSM) were measured using two‐dimensional ultrasound and SWE, respectively, and compared between the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic curves were employed to evaluate the performance of ONSD, ONSM, and combination (ONSD + ONSM) for diagnosing preeclampsia.

Results

The observation (preeclampsia) group ONSD and ONSM were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Optimal diagnostic values for ONSD and ONSM were 4.10 mm and 11.20 kPa, respectively. Areas under the curve for diagnosing preeclampsia were 0.958 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.926–0.990) for ONSD, 0.939 (95% CI, 0.894–0.985) for ONSM, and 0.982 (95% CI, 0.962–1.000) for ONSD + ONSM. There was no significant difference between ONSD and ONSM in diagnosing preeclampsia (p = 0.436). However, ONSD + ONSM was significantly advantageous over ONSD or ONSM alone in diagnosing preeclampsia (p = 0.033; p = 0.014).

Conclusions

Ultrasonic evaluation of the optic nerve can quantitatively assess optic nerve changes in pregnant women with preeclampsia.