Prognostic importance of retinopathy in acute leukemia

Leukemic Retinopathy: A Diagnostic Clue for Initial Detection and Prognosis of Leukemia

Leukemia is a systemic malignancy that can compromise various physiological functions, including vision. We report a case of a 37-year-old male presenting with worsening bilateral central vision loss, fatigue, shortness of breath, and ankle edema. Ophthalmic examination revealed extensive retinal hemorrhages, Roth spots, and subhyaloid hemorrhages, consistent with leukemic retinopathy. Further hematologic workup confirmed chronic eosinophilic leukemia. The patient showed systemic and visual improvement after prompt treatment with imatinib. This case highlights the importance of ophthalmological assessment in diagnosing leukemia, as ocular manifestations may often be the first sign of hematological disease.

Ocular abnormalities at diagnosis and after the completion of treatment in children and adolescents with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia

BACKGROUND

Ocular abnormalities (OA) in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are common findings both at diagnosis and later in follow-up. The frequency, predictors, and prognostic impact of OA in the context of recent ALL protocols are not well characterized.

PROCEDURE

Single-center retrospective analysis of the medical records of 224 patients with ALL enrolled on Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) ALL Consortium Protocol 05-001.

RESULTS

Overall, 217 (98%) patients had at least one ophthalmic exam. Retinal hemorrhages were the most frequent abnormalities at diagnosis (11%) and cataracts at later time points (13%). OA at diagnosis were associated with age ≥10 years and with the severity of anemia and thrombocytopenia; they were also univariately associated with lower 5-year event-free survival (EFS) (high risk [HR] = 3.09 [95% CI: 1.38-6.94]; p = .006), but not in a disease-free survival (DFS) model adjusted for end-induction minimal residual disease (p = .82). The cumulative incidence of cataract was 13.1% ± 2.8% at 43 months from diagnosis; its development was associated with high presenting white blood cell count (≥50,000/μl) (p = .010), male sex (p = .036), higher risk group (p = .025), and cranial radiation (p = .004). Cataract was associated with decreased visual acuity.

CONCLUSIONS

OA at diagnosis, present in 12% of patients, were associated with older age, anemia, and thrombocytopenia and did not carry a significant prognostic impact. Cataracts were detected in over 10% of patients and were associated with decreased visual acuity, thus supporting routine screening after completion of therapy, especially for those treated with high-risk protocols.

Ophthalmic Manifestations in Acute Leukemia Patients and Their Relation With Hematological Parameters in a Tertiary Care Center

Background: Leukemia is a neoplastic disorder that affects blood and bone marrow and is characterized by white blood cells' abnormal proliferation. Leukemia patients may present with different ophthalmic manifestations. This study aims to provide an updated data about the prevalence and types of ocular manifestations in acute leukemia patients and their relation with the hematological parameters.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included all acute leukemia patients diagnosed from 2015 to 2020 and underwent an ophthalmic examination during this period at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Jeddah.

Results: Eighty-one patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and had ophthalmic examinations. Forty-three (53.1%) patients were males, and 38 (46.9%) patients were females. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) was diagnosed in 55 (67.9%) patients, while acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) was diagnosed only in 26 (32.1%). Ophthalmic manifestations were observed in 23 patients with a prevalence of 28.4%. AML patients had more manifestations with a rate of 38.5%. ALL had a rate of 23.6% (p=0.1). Retinal hemorrhage was the most commonly seen manifestation in six patients.

Conclusion: Ophthalmic manifestations are not uncommon in acute leukemia patients. Low hemoglobin and RBC could give an idea about the type of ophthalmic manifestation, not the presence or absence. It is highly recommended to examine acute leukemia patients routinely prior, during, and after the treatment to prevent serious ocular damage and monitor the course of the disease.

Ophthalmological findings in patients with leukaemia in a Colombian population

OBJECTIVE

To report the ocular manifestations in patients with leukaemia.

METHODS

This is a retrospective, descriptive and observational study in patients with ocular manifestations of leukaemia.

RESULTS

A total of 14 eyes were evaluated corresponding to 8 patients (5 women and 3 men) with ocular manifestations of leukaemia. The mean age at diagnosis was 43 years (31-76 years). Six eyes corresponded to patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), four eyes to acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL), two eyes to chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), and the remaining two belonged to patients with hairy cell leukaemia (HCL). The primary ocular findings were choroidal invasion in 12 eyes (85.7%), retinal infiltration in 4 eyes (28.6%), and neuro-ophthalmic disorders in 4 eyes (28.6%). The mean visual acuity improved from 0.689 to 0.449 (logMAR) (P=.012) after the systemic and intrathecal chemotherapy. Of the eight patients, four died from systemic complications of the underlying disease.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report of multiple ocular manifestations secondary to leukaemia in a Colombian population. It is important to keep in mind that this disease is included within the masquerade syndromes and that the ophthalmological findings that, while subtle, can also be devastating and be signs of a life-threatening disease.

Ophthalmic manifestations of leukemia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article aims to describe the ocular manifestations of leukemia, resulting both from direct infiltration of neoplastic cells and from the more common secondary effects of leukemia and its treatment. The prevalence of these findings is also discussed, along with their clinical significance, association with hematologic markers and the ophthalmologist's role caring for these patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies have included a large case series examining the prevalence of ocular manifestations in newly diagnosed leukemic patients as well as case reports of ocular manifestations of leukemia.

SUMMARY

Patients with leukemia often have ocular manifestations. These occur either from direct infiltration of neoplastic cells or from indirect or secondary causes, including hematologic abnormalities, central nervous system involvement, opportunistic infections, or from treatment. Although nearly all ocular structures can be affected, leukemic retinopathy is often the most clinically apparent manifestation. Awareness of the ophthalmic manifestations of leukemia is important as they may precede systemic diagnosis or may be a sign of leukemia recurrence.

Chronic myelocytic leukemic fundus lesion: A case report

The current study reports a case of a patient with a chronic myelocytic leukemic fundus lesion, initially diagnosed in the Department of Ophthalmology, Rizhao People's Hospital (Rizhao, China). A male, 23-years-of-age, presented with a dark shadow in the front of the right eye, accompanied with blurred vision for 3 days (visual acuity of right eye, 0.4; visual acuity of left eye, 0.6). In addition, the patient had experienced gingival bleeding for 2 years, and recurrent upper respiratory infections for 1 year. A fundus examination revealed mild binocular papillary edema, dilated and tortuous veins, and the retina exhibited large quantities of scattered and dark red bleeding spots. The bleeding spots had white spots in the center, which exhibited typical Roth spots, whilst routine blood examination, abdominal ultrasound, marrow biopsy and other laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia. Patients with leukemia typically present with initial symptoms that include fever, fatigue, anemia and hepatosplenomegaly, and a diagnosis as a result of eye-related symptoms is rare, rendering the present case unique.

Ophthalmic manifestations in recently diagnosed childhood leukemia

PURPOSE

To determine the prevalence and the pattern of ocular involvement in children with leukemia at the time of diagnosis.

METHODS

The data of patients with leukemia who underwent complete ophthalmic examination at the time of diagnosis between January 2005 and December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, type of leukemia, ocular findings, blood parameters, and duration of follow-up were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 185 patients (111 male and 74 female) were included in the study, with a median age of 6.0 years (range 0.5-18.0 years) and a median follow-up time of 36.0 months (range 0.5-108.0 months). Ocular signs were present in 24.3% of the patients at the time of diagnosis and 37.8% of them were symptomatic. The prevalence of ocular involvement was 20.4% in patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and 36.4% in patients with acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) (p = 0.051). Fatality rate was significantly higher in subjects with AML compared with ALL (p = 0.019), but was not significantly different between patients with and without ocular involvement (p = 0.166). There were no significant differences in hemoglobin levels, white blood cell counts, or platelet counts between patients with ALL and AML. Platelet counts were significantly lower in patients with ocular signs compared with subjects without ocular involvement (p = 0.012), while hemoglobin levels and white blood cell counts did not differ significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

Various ocular signs may be present at the time of diagnosis in childhood leukemia, even in patients without any symptoms. Routine ophthalmic examination should be performed in recently diagnosed children with leukemia.

Bilateral retinal hemorrhages in an 18-year-old woman

A previously healthy 18-year-old woman presented with sudden onset of central blurred vision in the right eye. Fundoscopic examination showed retinal venous tortuosity, several flame-shaped hemorrhages bilaterally, and a subhyaloid hemorrhage in the right fovea. Laboratory evaluation and subsequent bone marrow biopsy were consistent with the diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The retinal findings had cleared almost completely by three weeks after initiation of chemotherapy.