Retinopathy in acute leukaemia at initial diagnosis: correlation of fundus lesions and haematological parameters.

PURPOSE

To determine the prevalence of retinal changes in newly diagnosed acute leukaemia patients, and to establish the relationship between retinal lesions and haematological parameters in these patients.

METHODS

A total of 127 patients with acute leukaemia (myeloid and lymphoid), of both genders, aged between 13 and 77 years, were examined by an ophthalmologist for retinal changes using direct/indirect ophthalmoscopy within 2 days of diagnosis before starting chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Retinal lesions were seen in 62 cases (49%), with intraretinal haemorrhages being the most common lesion (42%). A high white blood cell count was significantly associated with intraretinal haemorrhages (p = 0.04) and white-centred haemorrhages (p = 0.001), while a low platelet count was significantly associated with intraretinal haemorrhages (p = 0.03) in acute myeloid leukaemia patients.

CONCLUSIONS

A high white blood cell count may be considered as important as a low platelet count in the pathogenesis of leukaemic retinopathy.