Organ, bone marrow transplants increase risk of eye disease in children

ORLANDO, Fla. — Organ and bone marrow transplants were found to increase the risk of ocular illnesses such as cataract, cytomegalovirus retinitis and graft-vs.-host disease in children, according to a study presented here.

“Transplant surgery is common in children, but it presents the risk of ocular impairment. Up till now, the complication rate has been unknown,” said Yasmin S. Bradfield, MD, at the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus meeting.

Dr. Bradfield presented the outcomes of a retrospective study of 91 children who underwent transplant surgery between 1989 and 2004 at the University of Wisconsin. Surgical procedures included organ transplants, such as pancreas and liver transplants, and bone marrow transplants. Routine physical examinations after surgery included yearly eye exams.

By 1 year postop, 16% of patients had experienced ocular complications. By 3 years postop, 28% of patients had experienced ocular complications. Seven percent of patients developed posterior subcapsular cataract, the most common complication. Other leading complications included graft-vs.-host disease, following by CNV retinitis and strabismus.

Dr. Bradfield noted that most patients were taking high-dose prednisolone or cyclosporine when the complication was diagnosed.