Von Willebrand’s disease type I as a cause for subvitreal, retinal and subretinal haemorrhages

Case Report: Peripheral Retinal Ischemia and Retinal Neovascularization in von Willebrand Disease

SIGNIFICANCE

Although von Willebrand disease is the most common inherited bleeding disorder, there are only a few published reports of ocular complications. To our knowledge, this is the first case of peripheral retinal ischemia and retinal neovascularization in a patient with von Willebrand disease.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to demonstrate the value of multispecialty care when exploring a diagnosis for bilateral retinopathy.

CASE REPORT

A 55-year-old African American woman presented with peripheral retinal hemorrhages on routine examination. She was asymptomatic and did not have any personal or family history of bleeding disorders. Blood work was ordered, and she was referred to a retinal specialist who found peripheral telangiectasia, retinal ischemia, and leakage on fluorescein angiography, consistent with retinal neovascularization. Laser photocoagulation was performed while numerous specialists were consulted to determine the cause for her retinopathy. Laboratory testing confirmed low-grade type 1 von Willebrand disease. She was monitored without systemic treatment. She remained stable and asymptomatic, but her retinal neovascularization did not regress fully, so laser treatment was repeated.

CONCLUSIONS

This case described a new finding of peripheral retinal ischemia and retinal neovascularization in von Willebrand disease. It was discovered in an asymptomatic patient who did not have a history of bleeding but presented with bilateral retinal hemorrhages. Diagnosis was challenging because of the high degree of variation in this bleeding disorder, requiring extensive testing and careful consideration of the individual's clinical profile. Most people with von Willebrand disease do not know they have the disease because symptoms are mild or absent, so most cases are unreported. The von Willebrand factor is poorly recognized in ocular disease, but given its role in angiogenesis, it may be a valuable target to consider in future research.

Case report of unilateral retrobulbar hematoma associated with von Willebrand disease in a Doberman Pinscher dog

A 5-year-old Doberman Pinscher dog was presented with sudden onset left-sided periocular bleeding following third eyelid gland replacement surgery. Left-sided exophthalmos and 360-degrees subconjunctival hemorrhage were present. The ophthalmic examination revealed blindness with absent direct and consensual pupillary light reflexes. A superficial exposure ulcerative keratitis due to exophthalmos was also present. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a large left-sided retrobulbar mass lesion surrounding the optic nerve, compatible with a retrobulbar hematoma. Due to absence of orbital fractures and no history of trauma, a coagulopathy was strongly suspected. The buccal mucosal bleeding time (BMBT) was prolonged (>4 minutes) consistent with a primary hemostatic defect in the absence of thrombocytopenia. Von Willebrand factor antigens levels were decreased (24%- Normal Range: 50%-150%). Surgical drainage of the retrobulbar hematoma was performed uneventfully thirty minutes after subcutaneous injection of desmopressine acetate, Minirin® (1 µg/kg, SC). Von Willebrand disease type I gene mutation was confirmed by PCR amplification of the DNA encoding von Willebrand factor. This case report demonstrates that hemostatic disorders, including von Willebrand Disease (vWD), are a risk factor for orbital bleeding following surgical trauma. Retrobulbar hematoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in any dog with exophthalmos.

Retinal hemorrhage and bleeding disorders in children: A review

BACKGROUND

Retinal hemorrhages (RH) are a common manifestation of abusive head trauma (AHT) resulting from acceleration-deceleration injury with or without blunt impact. Evaluation of a child with RH requires careful consideration of these differential diagnoses. The extent to which coagulopathy alone can cause RH would be useful to understand as coagulopathy may accompany AHT.

OBJECTIVE

In this systematic review, we sought to identify whether coagulopathies have been reported with RH similar to those of AHT.

METHODS

We performed a literature search for ocular manifestations of bleeding disorders in children less than 18 years old. We included clotting factor deficiencies, vitamin K deficiency, platelet function abnormalities, thrombocytopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and trauma induced coagulopathy (TIC). We included only pediatric reports of intraocular bleeding or documented eye examinations that indicated no hemorrhages. We then re-examined cases for ocular and systemic findings that could potentially mimic abuse.

RESULTS

Our initial search yielded 816 results. Sixty-one articles met our inclusion criteria. Of these, there were 32 children within the AHT age range (less than 5 years old) who had RH and concomitant coagulopathy. Only 5 cases might potentially be confused for abuse. Of these, no classic characteristics of RH from abuse such as retinoschisis or retinal folds were found. Systemic features were inconsistent with AHT.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of coagulopathy alone does not rule out the possibility that the child has been abused. Coagulopathy alone has not been reported as an etiology of RH that are consistent with AHT, especially when other findings are present.

[Massive subretinal hemorrhage and anticoagulants. An unfortunate combination?]

Exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is one of the conditions which has been shown to be associated with a risk of massive subretinal hemorrhage. Patients with thick submacular hemorrhage complicating ARMD typically have a poor visual prognosis. Antiplatelet therapy with aspirin, clopidogrel or ticlopidine has significant benefits in the secondary prevention of fatal and non-fatal coronary and cerebrovascular events. Anticoagulation is frequently used in this elderly age group for a variety of other comorbidities including prosthetic heart valves, atrial fibrillation, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and venous thromboembolism. However, it is a well established observation that the longer patients remain on anticoagulant therapy, the higher the cumulative risk of bleeding. Over the past years, there has been a rapidly growing body of literature concerning the risk of hemorrhagic ocular complications with ophthalmic surgery in patients receiving anticoagulant therapy. By contrast, there are still little data on the relationship between anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy and spontaneous ocular hemorrhages and only few reports have focused on patients with ARMD. Just recently, several authors reported a strong association of anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents with the development of large subretinal hemorrhages in ARMD patients. Moreover, arterial hypertension is a high risk factor for large subretinal hemorrhages in ARMD patients receiving anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents. Physicians should be aware of an increased risk of extensive subretinal hemorrhage in ARMD patients when deciding on the initiation and duration of anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy.

Prevalence of retinal hemorrhages in critically ill children

BACKGROUND

Retinal hemorrhages (RHs) with encephalopathy and subdural bleeding are considered suggestive of abusive head trauma (AHT). Existing studies describing RH focus on AHT and have potential selection bias. We undertook a prospective observational study to define the prevalence, distribution, and extent of RH in critically ill children.

METHODS

From February 2008 to December 2009, emergency intensive care admissions ≥ 6 weeks of age underwent dilated retinal examination by either a pediatric ophthalmologist or RetCam (retinal photograph) imaging after written informed consent. Patients with suspected or proven AHT, penetrating eye trauma, and elective admissions were excluded.

RESULTS

The prevalence of RH was 15.1% (24/159; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.5%-21%); 16/24 (66%) mild, and 2/24 (8%) moderate. Severe multilayered RH were seen in only 6 patients (3.7%), 3 with myeloid leukemia and sepsis, 2 with severe accidental head injury, and 1 with severe coagulopathy secondary to late onset hemorrhagic disease of newborn. There was no detectable impact of age, gender, seizures, coagulopathy or cardiopulmonary resuscitation on prevalence of severe multilayered RH; however, sepsis (odds ratio: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.3-8.0, P = .018) and coagulopathy (odds ratio: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.2-7.0, P = .025) were significantly associated with any RH. Only admission diagnosis was independently associated with severe multilayered RH on logistic regression.

CONCLUSIONS

RHs were seen in critically ill children with a prevalence of 15.1% (24/159); however, most were mild. Severe multilayered RH resembling those described in AHT were rare (6/24) and were only seen in patients with fatal accidental trauma, severe coagulopathy, sepsis with myeloid leukemia, or a combination of these factors.

Coats' disease, Turner syndrome, and von Willebrand disease in a patient with Wildtype Norrie disease pseudoglioma

The authors describe a girl diagnosed as having Coats' disease, Turner syndrome (45X karyotype), and type 1 von Willebrand disease. She tested negative for the Norrie disease pseudoglioma (NDP) gene located on the X-chromosome, which has been suspected of contributing to Coats' disease.