J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2009 Sep;50(9):1418-1422. 10.3341/jkos.2009.50.9.1418.

Retinal Vasculopathy as First Manifestation of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. kimintae@catholic.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
To present a case of bilateral retinal vasculopathy as the first manifestation of chronic myelogenous leukemia. CASE SUMMARY: A 59-year-old man with no medical history such as diabetes, hypertension and no ocular history complained of decreased visual acuity for 1 month. Fundus examinations showed diffuse multiple dot and blot hemorrhages over the panretina of both eyes and vessels showed tortuous vascular changes. The fluorescein angiogram was evaluated, and showed diffuse microaneurysms at the peripheral retina and posterior pole. Hematologic and biochemical examinations as well as a carotid sonogram were performed based on the possibility of systemic disease. The patient showed hematologic abnormality and therefore was transferred to internal medicine for diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia. CONCLUSIONS: The authors examined a chronic leukemia patient, who showed bilateral retinal vasculopathy as the first manifestation of chronic myelogenous leukemia. This case shows the importance of considering the possibility of systemic disease.

Keyword

Chronic myelogenous leukemia; Retinal vasculopathy in leukemia

MeSH Terms

Eye
Fluorescein
Hemorrhage
Humans
Hypertension
Internal Medicine
Leukemia
Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive
Middle Aged
Retina
Retinaldehyde
Visual Acuity
Fluorescein
Retinaldehyde

Figure

  • Figure 1. Fundus color photographs of the patient showed diffuse multiple dot and blot hemorrhages throughout the retina of both eyes.

  • Figure 2. Central macular OCT examinations showed retinal thickening with macular edema in both eyes.

  • Figure 3. Fluorescein angiogram showed diffuse microaneurysms and ischemia at the peripheral retina and posterior pole and leakage around the disc.


Reference

References

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