Ocular Manifestations of Newly Diagnosed Acute Leukemia Patients

Ocular Phenotypes in Patients With Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: A Retrospective Analysis in a Single Center Over 7 Years

PURPOSE

To investigate the presence and type of ocular abnormalities in patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).

DESIGN

A retrospective cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Observational report of ocular findings and their associations with age, sex, underlying disease, and hematologic parameters. HLH was defined according to the 2004 criteria, and the patients were enrolled from March 2013 to December 2021. Analysis began in July 2022 and ended in January 2023. The main outcome measures were ocular abnormalities associated with HLH and their potential risk factors.

RESULTS

Of 1525 HLH patients, 341 had ocular examinations, and 133 (133 of 341, 39.00%) had ocular abnormalities. Mean age at presentation was 30.21 ± 14.42 years. The multivariate analysis indicated that old age, autoimmune disorders, decreasing red blood cell count, decreasing platelet count, and increasing fibrinogen level were independent risk factors of ocular involvement in HLH patients. The most common presenting ocular findings were posterior segment abnormalities (66 patients, 49.62%), including retinal and vitreous hemorrhage, serous retinal detachment, cytomegalovirus retinitis, and optic disc swelling. Other HLH-associated ocular abnormalities included ocular surface infection (conjunctivitis, 34 patients, 25.56%; keratitis, 16 patients, 12.03%), subconjunctival hemorrhage (11 patients, 8.27%), chemosis (5 patients, 3.76%), anterior uveitis (11 patients, 8.27%), glucocorticoid-induced glaucoma (5 patients, 3.76%), radiation cataract (1 patient, 0.75%), dacryoadenitis (2 patients, 1.50%), dacryocystitis (1 patients, 0.75%), orbital cellulitis (2 patients, 1.50%), orbital pseudotumor (2 patients, 1.50%), and strabismus (2 patients, 1.50%).

CONCLUSIONS

Eye involvement is not uncommon in HLH. Better awareness among both ophthalmologists and hematologists is necessary for prompt diagnosis and institution of appropriate management strategies with potential to save sight and life.

Leukemic retinopathy presenting as concurrent bilateral subhyaloid hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage in a patient with acute monocytic leukemia: a case report

BACKGROUND

Ophthalmic manifestations are common in patients with leukemia, developing in nearly 50% of cases. Intracranial hemorrhage is another potentially fatal complication of leukemia. In this case report, we aim to present a challenging case that involves both ophthalmic and intracranial manifestations in an individual with acute monocytic leukemia.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 36-year-old Persian male presented to the emergency room with complaints of fever, headache, and bilateral blurred vision. The patient had been diagnosed with acute monocytic leukemia 3 months prior and had undergone four sessions of induction chemotherapy, the last of which was 10 days prior to admission. The patient was admitted to the internal medicine service, and initial lab studies confirmed pancytopenia, including severe neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Subarachnoid hemorrhage in the left frontal lobe was detected through spiral brain computed tomography scan. Ophthalmic examination revealed visual acuity of light perception in the right eye and 3-m finger count in the left eye. Fundus examination revealed bilateral peripapillary subhyaloid and intraretinal hemorrhages, confirming leukemic retinopathy. The patient showed significant improvement in visual acuity and hemorrhage resolution through conservative treatment and regular follow-ups after 3 months.

CONCLUSION

Simultaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage and bilateral subhyaloid hemorrhages seemed to have occurred as a result of pancytopenia. Management approach of ophthalmic manifestations of leukemia involves interdisciplinary cooperation and should be individualized on the basis of the patients' underlying medical condition.

Ophthalmic Manifestations of Newly Diagnosed Acute Leukemia Patients in a Tunisian Cohort

Purpose

To describe ocular manifestations of acute leukemia in a Tunisian cohort and to assess the associations between ophthalmic findings and epidemiological, clinical, and biological features of the disease.

Methods

A prospective study included patients newly diagnosed with acute leukemia referred to our clinics between January 2019 and July 2020. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic evaluation and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) at presentation, then every two months during one year. We defined two groups: Group 1 included patients with leukemic ophthalmopathy and group 2 included patients with normal ophthalmic examination.

Results

Forty-six patients were enrolled. The mean age of patients was 32.1±15.3 years. The sex ratio M/F was 1.55 (28 male patients and 18 females). Twenty-nine patients (63%) had acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and 17 (37%) had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The average follow-up was 9.1 months (range: 3–12 months). We observed ophthalmic manifestations in 28 patients (61%). Among them, 17 (61%) had vision-threatening complications. The posterior segment was the most common site of ocular involvement (82% of group1). Primary leukemic infiltration (Disc edema, ptosis, exophthalmos) was present in 13 eyes (14.1%). Twenty-seven eyes (29.3%) had secondary involvement lesions (Subconjunctival hemorrhage, periorbital ecchymosis, retinal/sub-hyaloid hemorrhage, dilated/tortuous veins). Twenty-one eyes (22.8%) showed other ocular manifestations which etiopathogenesis is not yet fully understood (White-centred hemorrhages, cotton-wool spots, serous retinal detachment, hemorrhagic pigment epithelial detachment). Leukemic retinopathy was significantly more frequent in adults (23/39 and 1/7 in adult and pediatric groups, respectively; p=0.003). Patients suffering from AML were more likely to have secondary ocular involvement (20/29 and 7/17 in AML and ALL patients, respectively; p=0.047). Retinal hemorrhages were statistically associated with anemia and thrombocytopenia (p=0.041 and p=0.034; respectively).

Conclusion

Leukemic ophthalmopathy seems to be frequent and may lead to severe visual impairment. An ophthalmic assessment complemented with SD-OCT has paramount importance in all newly diagnosed acute leukemic patients.