Characteristic OCT Pattern in Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia

Serous business: Delineating the broad spectrum of diseases with subretinal fluid in the macula

A wide range of ocular diseases can present with serous subretinal fluid in the macula and therefore clinically mimic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). In this manuscript, we categorise the diseases and conditions that are part of the differential diagnosis into 12 main pathogenic subgroups: neovascular diseases, vitelliform lesions, inflammatory diseases, ocular tumours, haematological malignancies, paraneoplastic syndromes, genetic diseases, ocular developmental anomalies, medication-related conditions and toxicity-related diseases, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and tractional retinal detachment, retinal vascular diseases, and miscellaneous diseases. In addition, we describe 2 new clinical pictures associated with macular subretinal fluid accumulation, namely serous maculopathy with absence of retinal pigment epithelium (SMARPE) and serous maculopathy due to aspecific choroidopathy (SMACH). Differentiating between these various diseases and CSC can be challenging, and obtaining the correct diagnosis can have immediate therapeutic and prognostic consequences. Here, we describe the key differential diagnostic features of each disease within this clinical spectrum, including representative case examples. Moreover, we discuss the pathogenesis of each disease in order to facilitate the differentiation from typical CSC.

Multimodal imaging of two cases of retinal vein occlusion secondary to Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia

PURPOSE

To report multimodal imaging characteristics of two cases of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) secondary to Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM).

CASE REPORT

Case 1: An 82-year-old woman presented with vision loss. She had a history of WM. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/100 Snellen equivalent in the right eye (OD) and 20/63 in the left eye (OS). Fundoscopy showed bilateral hemorrhages in posterior pole and along superotemporal arcade. Fluorescein angiography illustrated no macular leakage. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed macular edema (ME). Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) demonstrated abnormalities in choriocapillaris. A diagnosis of bilateral branch RVO was made and ME was treated with intravitreal dexamethasone, achieving stability. Case 2: A 65-year-old man presented with venous dilation, tortuosity, and intraretinal hemorrhages. BCVA was 20/20 in both eyes (OU). OCT showed ME and hyperreflective dots in choroid. A diagnosis of bilateral central RVO was made. Laboratory evaluation and bone narrow biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of WM. After that, our patient consulted because of vision loss. BCVA was 20/400 in OU. Fundoscopy and OCT demonstrated a worsening of the intraretinal hemorrhages and the ME. OCTA showed damage of choriocapillaris. Thus, intravitreal dexamethasone and plasmapheresis was advised. Two months after, BCVA was 20/40 in the OD and 20/32 in the OS. Also, fundoscopy and OCT improved.

CONCLUSION

Early treatment of WM is truly important, with the aim of achieving a decrease in IgM levels in order to avoid toxic effect over the RPE that results in refractory ME.

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography of retinal vessels in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia

PURPOSE

To image retinal blood vessels in patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODS

Retrospective case series examining fundus photographs and OCT scans of 16 eyes in eight patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. Analyses included intravascular OCT reflectivity profiles and vessel diameters, and their relation to total immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels.

RESULTS

In six out of eight patients, cross-sectional OCT scans of larger retinal vessels (diameter > 100 μm) showed normal intravascular reflectivity and retrovascular shadowing. In two patients with the highest total IgM > 60 g/l, altered intravascular reflectivity, distinct anterior and posterior vessel wall reflexes, and retrovascular hyposhadowing were seen. Normalization of the OCT reflectivity in these patients occurred after reduction of total IgM to < 17 g/l and was accompanied by decreasing venous tortuosity and disappearance of retinal haemorrhages and cotton wool spots.

CONCLUSION

This study found that Waldenström's macroglobulinemia and total IgM > 60 g/l were associated with abnormal intravascular reflectivity and retrovascular shadowing on OCT. Awareness of these signs of hyperviscosity could potentially enable earlier detection of critical conditions in patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia and improve the assessment of severity and treatment effect.