Occlusive microvascular retinopathy with optic disc and retinal neovascularization in acute lymphocytic leukemia

Retinal toxicities of systemic anticancer drugs

Newer anticancer drugs have revolutionized cancer treatment in the last decade, but conventional chemotherapy still occupies a central position in many cancers, with combination therapy and newer methods of delivery increasing their efficacy while minimizing toxicities. We discuss the retinal toxicities of anticancer drugs with an emphasis on the mechanism of toxicity. Uveitis is seen with the use of v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B editing anticancer inhibitors as well as immunotherapy. Most of the cases are mild with only anterior uveitis, but severe cases of posterior uveitis, panuveitis, and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like disease may also occur. In the retina, a transient neurosensory detachment is observed in almost all patients on mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitors. Microvasculopathy is often seen with interferon α, but vascular occlusion is a more serious toxicity caused by interferon α and MEK inhibitors. Crystalline retinopathy with or without macular edema may occur with tamoxifen; however, even asymptomatic patients may develop cavitatory spaces seen on optical coherence tomography. A unique macular edema with angiographic silence is characteristic of taxanes. Delayed dark adaptation has been observed with fenretinide. Interestingly, this drug is finding potential application in Stargardt disease and age-related macular degeneration.

Chronic myeloid leukaemia accelerates proliferative retinopathy in patients with co-existent diabetes: A risk factor not to be ignored

OBJECTIVE

To describe the retinal imaging characteristics, retinopathy management strategies and visual outcomes in cases of diabetes with chronic myeloid leukaemia.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with diabetes and chronic myeloid leukaemia managed at our tertiary eye care centre from January 2015 to December 2017.

METHODS

Detailed ophthalmic and systemic evaluation, treatment and follow-up records were reviewed. The main measures studied were visual acuity, intra-ocular pressure, retinopathy severity, and surgical indications and techniques.

RESULTS

Of the six patients studied, three had diabetes and chronic myeloid leukaemia at presentation, while in three cases chronic myeloid leukaemia was diagnosed following evaluation for proliferative retinopathy. The visual acuity ranged from 20/20 to perception of light. All eyes had marked proliferative retinopathy out of proportion to the exudation. None of the eyes had significant macular oedema. Pan-retinal photocoagulation (10/12, 83.33%), intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection (8/12, 66.67%), vitrectomy (2/12, 16.67%), cataract surgery (2/12, 16.67%) and trabeculectomy followed by cryoablation (2/12, 16.67%) was performed for management of the ocular disease as indicated. Median follow-up was 16.5 months (range: 6-24 months). Final visual acuity ranged from PL to 20/20 with acuity ⩾ 20/100 in eight eyes. Four eyes had advanced optic neuropathy from neovascular glaucoma.

CONCLUSION

Accelerated proliferative retinopathy can be seen in cases of diabetes with chronic myeloid leukaemia at the very initial ophthalmic evaluation. Thus, there is a need to alter screening guidelines for retinopathy in cases of diabetes with chronic myeloid leukaemia. Early detection and aggressive management may help preserve visual acuity in such cases.

Non-GVHD ocular complications after hematopoietic cell transplantation: expert review from the Late Effects and Quality of Life Working Committee of the CIBMTR and Transplant Complications Working Party of the EBMT

Non-graft-versus-host disease (non-GVHD) ocular complications are generally uncommon after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), but can cause prolonged morbidity affecting activities of daily living and quality of life. Here we provide an expert review of non-GVHD ocular complications in a collaboration between transplant physicians and ophthalmologists through the Late Effects and Quality of Life Working Committee of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and the Transplant Complications Working Party of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Complications discussed in this review include cataracts, glaucoma, ocular infections, ocular involvement with malignancy, ischemic microvascular retinopathy, central retinal vein occlusion, retinal hemorrhage, retinal detachment and ocular toxicities associated with medications. We have summarized incidence, risk factors, screening, prevention and treatment of individual complications and generated evidence-based recommendations. Baseline ocular evaluation before HCT should be considered in all patients who undergo HCT. Follow-up evaluations should be considered according to clinical symptoms, signs and risk factors. Better preventive strategies and treatments remain to be investigated for individual ocular complications after HCT. Both transplant physicians and ophthalmologists should be knowledgeable of non-GVHD ocular complications and provide comprehensive collaborative team care.

Non-Graft-versus-Host Disease Ocular Complications after Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: Expert Review from the Late Effects and Quality of Life Working Committee of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and the Transplant Complications Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

Non-graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) ocular complications are generally uncommon after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) but can cause prolonged morbidity affecting activities of daily living and quality of life. Here we provide an expert review of non-GVHD ocular complications in a collaboration between transplantation physicians and ophthalmologists through the Late Effects and Quality of Life Working Committee of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and the Transplant Complications Working Party of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Complications discussed in this review include cataracts, glaucoma, ocular infections, ocular involvement with malignancy, ischemic microvascular retinopathy, central retinal vein occlusion, retinal hemorrhage, retinal detachment and ocular toxicities associated with medications. We summarize the incidence, risk factors, screening, prevention, and treatment of individual complications and generate evidence-based recommendations. Baseline ocular evaluation before HCT should be considered in all patients who undergo HCT. Follow-up evaluations should be considered according to clinical signs and symptoms and risk factors. Better preventive strategies and treatments remain to be investigated for individual ocular complications after HCT. Both transplantation physicians and ophthalmologists should be knowledgeable about non-GVHD ocular complications and provide comprehensive collaborative team care.

Bilateral proliferative retinopathy in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

A 4-year-old child with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia presented with vitreous hemorrhage due to proliferative retinopathy in both eyes. Pars plana vitrectomy was performed in both eyes to clear nonresolving vitreous hemorrhage after systemic stabilization. Visual recovery was limited by the disc drag in the right eye and subfoveal exudation in the left eye. Etiopathogenesis and management of proliferative retinopathy in acute leukemias are discussed.

Acute bilateral retina hemorrhages beneath internal limiting membrane: An unusual ophthalmological case report of acute leukemia during complete clinical remission

RATIONALE

Leukemia is a common hematologic disease that causes various systemic complications, such as ophthalmological disorders. The venous congestion is considered to be the main clinical sign that occurs during the initial stage of the disease, whereas white-centered hemorrhages are the most typical manifestations in leukemic retinopathy. These complications usually manifest when the disease presents with clinical and hematological symptoms. In the present study, we report a patient who was diagnosed with leukemic retinopathy. The initial signs of this disease were bilateral hemorrhages that occurred during complete clinical remission. Previous studies regarding this condition are quite rare.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We report a 26-year-old man who was diagnosed with leukemic retinopathy and exhibited the initial signs of the disease, namely bilateral hemorrhages with a distinct appearance beneath the internal limiting membrane. In addition, flame-shaped hemorrhages were observed surrounding the optic discs and/or along the vessels in the absence of venous congestion. All these changes were present during complete clinical remission.

DIAGNOSES

Bilateral acute leukemic retinopathy, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pro-B lymphocyte, BCR-ABL chimeric gene-positive).

INTERVENTIONS

Clinical remission was achieved following effective systemic chemotherapy that was applied for leukemia in the hematology department. A dynamic observation was applied actively in the absence of surgery and/or medical treatment for ophthalmologic treatment.

OUTCOMES

Best corrected visual acuity was 20/40 in the right eye and 20/60 in the left eye, which was considerably better than those noted at the initial visit of the patient (20/250 in the right eye and 20/400 in the left eye).

LESSONS

The cautious expectant treatment is safe and helpful for acute leukemic retinopathy. A long-term follow-up is inevitable. Effective systemic chemotherapy that is required for leukemia treatment can achieve clinical remission, which might be helpful in controlling the pathological changes of the eyes.

Enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography of precursor cell leukemic choroidopathy before and after chemotherapy

Serous retinal detachment (SRD) can be the initial manifestation of leukemia. Herein, we explore the retinal and choroidal features on enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) of SRD in a patient with undiagnosed leukemia. A 23-year-old male developed blurred visual acuity of 20/200 in the right eye oculus dexter (OD) and 20/200 in the left eye oculus sinister (OS). Funduscopically, he manifested serous macular detachment in both eyes oculi uterque (OU) without hemorrhagic retinal abnormalities. EDI-OCT disclosed macular detachment OU and homogeneous, marked choroidal opacification with thickening to 724 μm OD and estimated >600 μm OS and with loss of choroidal detail OU. Peripheral blood smears revealed severe thrombocytopenia and normal leukocyte count. Peripheral cytochemisty, immunophenotyping, and bone marrow aspirate confirmed the presence of atypical lymphoblasts, fulfilling criteria for precursor cell leukemia. Following systemic chemotherapy, the visual acuity improved to 20/25 OD and 20/20 OS. On EDI-OCT, the choroidal thickening resolved to 431 um OD and 443 um OS, leaving a normal choroidal appearance. Massive choroidal infiltration with leukemic cells could be the cause of serous macular detachment found in patients with newly diagnosed leukemia.

Retinal toxicities of cancer therapy drugs: biologics, small molecule inhibitors, and chemotherapies

PURPOSE

To review reported retinal side effects from current cancer therapy drugs.

METHODS

Retinal toxicities from ophthalmologic or oncologic case reports, case series, and clinical trials were identified by a systematic literature search using Lexicomp and PubMed.

RESULTS

Four biologics, 8 small molecule inhibitors, and 17 traditional chemotherapy agents had reported retinal side effects. For biologics, interferon alpha 2b was associated with retinopathy, denileukin diftitiox with pigmentary retinopathy, ipilimumab with a Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome, and trastuzumab with retinal ischemia. For small molecule inhibitors, v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF) inhibitors were associated with uveitis, mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibitors with pigment epithelium detachments, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors with macular edema. Steroid antagonists were associated with crystalline retinopathy and macular edema. Nitrosoureas, platinum analogs, and cytosine arabinoside were associated with retinal vascular occlusions. Antimicrotubular agents were associated with cystoid macular edema but without fluorescein leakage. Retinoic acid derivatives were associated with impaired night vision, and mitotane was associated with a pigmentary retinopathy and papilledema.

CONCLUSION

Certain agents used in the treatment of systemic cancer are associated with ocular complications. Awareness of these complications will allow early detections and maybe reversal of some of the ocular problems.

Vasculopathies affecting the eye

The retinal arteries and veins may be involved in isolation or as the result of a systemic vasculitis. This article emphasizes neurologic diseases in which the ocular vasculature is affected.

Bilateral retinal hemorrhages in an 18-year-old woman

A previously healthy 18-year-old woman presented with sudden onset of central blurred vision in the right eye. Fundoscopic examination showed retinal venous tortuosity, several flame-shaped hemorrhages bilaterally, and a subhyaloid hemorrhage in the right fovea. Laboratory evaluation and subsequent bone marrow biopsy were consistent with the diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The retinal findings had cleared almost completely by three weeks after initiation of chemotherapy.