Leukostasis Retinopathy: A New Clinical Manifestation of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia With Severe Hyperleukocytosis

Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2015 Jul-Aug;46(7):768-70. doi: 10.3928/23258160-20150730-14.

Abstract

The authors report a new clinical manifestation of chronic myeloid leukemia. A 41-year-old man presented with significant visual loss, leading to a diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia. His white blood count exceeded that of any previously reported case of the disease with documented retinal findings (562,000/mm(3)), and clinical evaluation revealed the blockage of temporal retinal vessels by white blood cells. Hematologic findings resolved within 1 month of chemotherapy with dasatinib, and further treatment with intravitreal anti-VEGF agents resulted in the complete resolution of fundus findings. The authors propose that leukostasis retinopathy be recognized as a clinical manifestation of this life-threatening disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bevacizumab / therapeutic use
  • Dasatinib / therapeutic use
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Humans
  • Intravitreal Injections
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / diagnosis*
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / drug therapy
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Leukocytosis / diagnosis*
  • Leukocytosis / drug therapy
  • Leukostasis / diagnosis*
  • Leukostasis / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Retinal Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Retinal Diseases / drug therapy
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Visual Acuity

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Bevacizumab
  • Dasatinib