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Query: UMLS:C0023418 (leukemia)
 93,477 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Invasive bacterial and candidal infections are known to involve the retina, but the natural history of the retinal lesions and the utility of ophthalmologic consultation in the critical care setting as a diagnostic tool are not well understood. We 1) performed weekly funduscopic examinations on 77 medical and surgical patients in intensive care units (ICUs), 2) analyzed results of serial ocular examinations in 180 non-neutropenic patients with candidemia, and 3) reviewed the English literature on the association of retinal lesions with disseminated bacterial or candidal infection (DBCI). We found that 15 (19%) of the ICU patients had retinal lesions consistent with DBCI. Of these 15, 1 had clearly sepsis-related retinal lesions, while 13 (87%) had 1 or more systemic disease that could have explained their retinal findings (6 diabetic retinopathy; 2 human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) retinopathy; 2 hypertensive retinopathy; 1 hemolytic uremic syndrome, and 1 leukemia). Multivariate analysis revealed that systemic disease (odds ratio 8.37, 95% confidence intervals: 3.24-21.56) independently correlated with the presence of retinal lesions while DBCI, trauma, hyperalimentation, and transfusion of blood products were not independently predictive in any analysis. Twenty of the 180 (15%) candidemic patients had retinal lesions. Two (1%) had classic 3-dimensional white lesions with vitreal extension, and 5 (2.7%) had chorioretinal lesions without vitreal haziness. Notably, 10% of patients had superficial retinal hemorrhages and/or cotton wool spots that could have been due to either candidemia or a systemic disease (diabetes, hypertension, renal failure, closed head trauma). Concurrent bacteremia occurred in 3 of the 27 patients with eye lesions. Retinal lesions resolved in a mean of 33 days. None of the patients had symptoms at the time of the retinal finding. We found 3 studies that prospectively assessed retinal lesions in bacteremic patients. The frequency of retinal lesions in these series varied from 12% to 26%, with the most common lesions being cotton wool spots followed by superficial retinal hemorrhages. White-centered hemorrhages were seen in about 15% +/- 2 of bacteremic patients. Five studies prospectively evaluated candidemic patients for Candida endophthalmitis. These studies observed rates from 0% to 78% for lesions consistent with candidal endophthalmitis. Most studies performed recently found that nonspecific lesions such as cotton wool spots or superficial retinal hemorrhages occurred with a frequency of 11% to 20%. The availability of less toxic antifungal agents, more frequent use of empirical therapy, and the trend to early treatment may be altering the frequency of this complication. Observation of a classic 3-dimensional retina-based vitreal inflammatory process is virtually diagnostic of endogenous endophthalmitis due to Candida spp., but such lesions are relatively uncommon. Conversely, nonspecific lesions that could be due to bacterial or candidal endophthalmitis (cotton wool spots, retinal hemorrhages, and Roth spots) are seen frequently. These lesions are most often due to an underlying systemic disease rather than an infection. Serial examinations provide the best evidence that a given lesion is due to an intercurrent infection. The current low rate of vitreal extension of retinal process appears to be due to the high rate of empirical or therapeutic use of antifungal agents in high-risk patient groups. Ophthalmoscopy should be performed in patients with known candidemia. However, ophthalmoscopic examination seems to have little value in assisting with the discovery of occult disseminated candidiasis or bacterial infection.
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PMID:Retinal lesions as clues to disseminated bacterial and candidal infections: frequency, natural history, and etiology. 1279 5

A previously healthy 17-year old girl presented with sudden visual loss in both eyes. Visual acuity on the right eye was 0.3 and on the left eye 0.1. Fundoscopic examination showed bilateral optic disc edema, retinal venous tortuousity and dilatation, retinal blot and flame-shaped hemorrhages, Roth spots and on the left eye dark blot preretinal hemorrhage covering the fovea. Laboratory evaluation showed white blood cell count of 455 x 10(9) L. Bone marrow biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia. Chemotherapy was initiated and led to the improvement of visual acuity. Fundus changes had resolved except for the preretinal hemorrhage on left eye which decreased in size. Preretinal hemorrhage in fovea caused maculopathy on the left eye. Three months after admisson visual acuity was 1.0 on the right eye and 0.3 on the left eye. Leukemia should always be included in the differential diagnosis of optic disc edema and retinal hemorrhages.
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PMID:Visual loss as initial presentation of chronic myelogenous leukemia. 1619 98

This case report describes the unilateral acute reduction of vision in the right eye of a 48-year-old woman. The patient was otherwise healthy but 2 days previously had suffered from dizziness and blurred vision. Secondary to this, the patient had already been under dental treatment for 1 week due to gingival swelling. At the first examination a macular branch retinal vein occlusion and Roth spots were found in the right eye by indirect ophthalmoscopy. The immediate diagnostic procedure identified aute amyeloid leukemia (AML) as the cause of the vascular pathology. The AML can be manifested in different ways and the retina is involved in approximately 50% of cases. Due to a secondary hyperviscosity syndrome, which is found in approx. 20% of acute leukaemias, symptomatic central vein occlusion or macular branch vein occlusion can occur. Ophthalmic symptoms can be the first and only signs to be detected. Therefore, ophthalmologists should also consider a systemic disease and initiate a clarification. A differential blood count is indispensable. The results usually improve by a rapidly arranged and suitable therapy. Ophthalmological follow-up examinations are imperative as an initiated chemotherapy can also produce ophthalmological side-effects.
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PMID:[Gingival hyperplasia and visual reduction]. 2149 Nov 19

The current study reports a case of a patient with a chronic myelocytic leukemic fundus lesion, initially diagnosed in the Department of Ophthalmology, Rizhao People's Hospital (Rizhao, China). A male, 23-years-of-age, presented with a dark shadow in the front of the right eye, accompanied with blurred vision for 3 days (visual acuity of right eye, 0.4; visual acuity of left eye, 0.6). In addition, the patient had experienced gingival bleeding for 2 years, and recurrent upper respiratory infections for 1 year. A fundus examination revealed mild binocular papillary edema, dilated and tortuous veins, and the retina exhibited large quantities of scattered and dark red bleeding spots. The bleeding spots had white spots in the center, which exhibited typical Roth spots, whilst routine blood examination, abdominal ultrasound, marrow biopsy and other laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia. Patients with leukemia typically present with initial symptoms that include fever, fatigue, anemia and hepatosplenomegaly, and a diagnosis as a result of eye-related symptoms is rare, rendering the present case unique.
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PMID:Chronic myelocytic leukemic fundus lesion: A case report. 2770 97