Symbolic illustration of the link between preeclampsia and uveitis, featuring a mother/child silhouette overlaid with an inflamed eye.

Beyond Delivery: Understanding the Link Between Preeclampsia and Uveitis

Nico Varela in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research sheds light on the increased risk of non-infectious uveitis in women with a history of preeclampsia, urging awareness and proactive monitoring."

Preeclampsia, a pregnancy-specific condition characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine, affects 2-5% of pregnancies worldwide. While the immediate risks of preeclampsia and eclampsia (its more severe form involving seizures) are well-documented, emerging research suggests potential long-term health consequences for affected women.

One area of increasing concern is the link between preeclampsia and the development of non-infectious uveitis, an inflammatory condition affecting the eye. Uveitis encompasses a group of inflammatory diseases that impact the pigmented vascular layers of the eye, potentially leading to visual impairment if left unmanaged.

A recent study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology investigates this connection, revealing a statistically significant association between preeclampsia/eclampsia and an increased risk of non-infectious uveitis in postdelivery women. This article breaks down the study's findings, explores the potential mechanisms behind this link, and emphasizes the importance of awareness and proactive monitoring for women with a history of preeclampsia.

Decoding the Research: Preeclampsia's Impact on Uveitis Risk

Symbolic illustration of the link between preeclampsia and uveitis, featuring a mother/child silhouette overlaid with an inflamed eye.

The study, utilizing data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, examined the incidence of non-infectious uveitis in postdelivery women with and without a history of preeclampsia/eclampsia. Researchers analyzed data from 2,073 women with a history of preeclampsia/eclampsia and 8,292 women without, tracking the occurrence of non-infectious uveitis over a five-year follow-up period.

The results indicated a significantly higher incidence of non-infectious uveitis among women with a history of preeclampsia/eclampsia. Specifically, non-infectious uveitis occurred in 0.7% of postdelivery women with preeclampsia/eclampsia compared to only 0.2% of those without. This translates to an incidence rate of 1.5 per 1,000 person-years in the preeclampsia/eclampsia group versus 0.5 per 1,000 person-years in the non-preeclampsia/eclampsia group.

Increased Risk: Women with a history of preeclampsia/eclampsia demonstrated a 2.96 times higher incidence rate ratio for developing non-infectious uveitis (95% CI: 1.48-5.90, P=0.002).
Significant Increase: A significant increase in the cumulative incidence of non-infectious uveitis was observed in women with preeclampsia/eclampsia compared to those without (P=0.001).
Adjusted Hazard Ratio: After adjusting for factors like age, income, urbanization, and comorbidities, the risk of non-infectious uveitis remained significantly higher in the preeclampsia/eclampsia group (adjusted hazard ratio [95% CI]: 2.96 [1.48-5.92]; P=0.002).

This study highlights a previously underappreciated long-term consequence of preeclampsia, suggesting that the condition may predispose women to an increased risk of autoimmune or inflammatory conditions affecting the eye.

The Immune Connection: Unraveling the Mechanism

While the exact mechanisms linking preeclampsia and uveitis remain under investigation, researchers suspect that immune system dysregulation plays a crucial role. Preeclampsia is characterized by an imbalance in the maternal immune system, with an increased activation of pro-inflammatory pathways. This immune dysregulation may persist even after delivery, potentially triggering inflammatory conditions like uveitis.

Specifically, the study references the shift from Th2 to Th1 immune response, the role of Th17 cells, and genetic factors involving HLA that could contribute to an environment favorable to autoimmune reactions affecting the eye. Further research is needed to fully elucidate these complex interactions.

This new understanding emphasizes the importance of long-term follow-up and monitoring for women with a history of preeclampsia. If you have experienced preeclampsia, be vigilant about any changes in your vision and report them to your healthcare provider promptly. Early detection and management of uveitis can help prevent vision loss and maintain optimal eye health.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.ajo.2018.10.009, Alternate LINK

Title: Pre-Eclampsia/Eclampsia As A Risk Factor Of Noninfectious Uveitis Among Postdelivery Women

Subject: Ophthalmology

Journal: American Journal of Ophthalmology

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Wei-Dar Chen, Yao-Hsu Yang, Chung-Yuan Lee, Chien-Hsiung Lai, Chia-Yen Liu, Li-Ju Lai

Published: 2019-02-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is Preeclampsia, and why is it important to understand in relation to eye health?

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific condition defined by high blood pressure and protein in the urine, impacting 2-5% of pregnancies globally. The significance lies in its potential long-term health implications beyond the immediate risks during pregnancy. The study highlighted in the content suggests a link between a history of Preeclampsia and the increased risk of non-infectious uveitis. This association means women with a history of Preeclampsia should be aware of the increased risk of this eye condition post-delivery and be proactive with monitoring.

What is non-infectious uveitis, and why does it matter in the context of Preeclampsia?

Non-infectious uveitis is an inflammatory condition affecting the eye, specifically impacting the pigmented vascular layers. It can potentially lead to visual impairment if left unmanaged. In this context, the importance of Uveitis stems from its association with Preeclampsia. The study revealed a statistically significant correlation where women with a history of Preeclampsia/Eclampsia exhibited a higher incidence of non-infectious uveitis post-delivery. The implications mean women who experienced Preeclampsia are at an increased risk and should undergo proactive monitoring and awareness of the possible long-term health impacts.

How did the study investigate the link between Preeclampsia and non-infectious uveitis, and what is the importance of this study design?

The study used data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database to examine the link between Preeclampsia/Eclampsia and non-infectious uveitis. The data from 2,073 women with a history of preeclampsia/eclampsia was compared to 8,292 women without this history, tracking the incidence of non-infectious uveitis over a five-year period. The significance of this study design is that it provides a large dataset that can be statistically analyzed to discover an association between the two conditions. The implications highlight a previously underappreciated long-term consequence of Preeclampsia, namely, the potential increased risk of autoimmune or inflammatory conditions affecting the eye.

What were the key findings of the study regarding the connection between Preeclampsia and the development of non-infectious uveitis, and what do these findings mean?

The study showed a significant increase in the risk of non-infectious uveitis for women with a history of Preeclampsia/Eclampsia. Women with a history of Preeclampsia/Eclampsia demonstrated a 2.96 times higher incidence rate ratio for developing non-infectious uveitis. The implications of these findings suggest that immune system dysregulation, a characteristic of Preeclampsia, might play a role. This dysregulation may persist even after delivery, potentially triggering inflammatory conditions like Uveitis.

What is the suspected mechanism linking Preeclampsia and uveitis, and what are the implications of this connection?

The exact mechanisms linking Preeclampsia and Uveitis are still being investigated. However, the prevailing theory suggests that immune system dysregulation, which is a characteristic of Preeclampsia, plays a crucial role. Preeclampsia is associated with an imbalance in the maternal immune system, with an increase in pro-inflammatory pathways. The significance here is that this immune dysregulation may persist after delivery and could trigger inflammatory conditions like Uveitis. The implications mean that a better understanding of the immune connection may lead to interventions aimed at mitigating the risk of Uveitis in women with a history of Preeclampsia.