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High white counts, low platelet counts seen in leukemic retinopathy
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An above-normal white blood cell count may be as important in the pathogenesis of leukemic retinopathy as a below-normal platelet count, according to a study.
S. Chandrasekhara Reddy, MD, and Prof. Nicholas Jackson, of the University Sains Malaysia, conducted the study. The ophthalmologists looked for retinal changes in 127 patients, ages 13 to 77 years, who had acute leukemia. Exams were performed within 2 days of diagnosis and before chemotherapy was begun.
Retinal lesions were noted in 62 cases (49%), with the most common lesions being intraretinal hemorrhages in 42%.
The authors noted that there was a significant association between high white blood cell counts and both intraretinal hemorrhages (P = .04) and white-centered hemorrhages (P = .001). There was also a significant association between a low platelet count and intraretinal hemorrhages in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (P = .03).
The study is published in Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica.