Poor Prognosis in Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura-associated Retinopathy

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report a case of retinopathy in a patient with chronically resistant idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) associated with a poor prognosis. CASE SUMMARY: A 52-year-old female presented with a complaint of decreased visual acuity, which was 0.63 in both eyes. The patient had received a splenectomy, was receiving systemic treatment for chronic ITP, and had a history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Multiple retinal and subretinal hemorrhages and Roth spots were found on fundus examination. Fluorescein angiography revealed microaneurysms and hemorrhages in all four quadrants of the retina. The patient's platelet count was 38,000/µL. The patient was diagnosed with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and ITP-associated retinopathy, and underwent panretinal photocoagulation. Sudden visual loss was noted 4 months later, at which time the patient's visual acuity was 0.1 in both eyes, and her platelet count was 7,000/µL. For 2 years, the patient's platelet count was not controlled, and remained between 12,000–19,000/µL despite active medical treatment. Macular edema did not improve with intravitreal triamcinolone, dexamethasone, and bevacizumab. Retinal hemorrhages were not absorbed and visual acuity decreased to light perception in the right eye and counting fingers in the left eye. CONCLUSIONS: ITP-associated retinopathy was associated with a poor prognosis when the systemic disease was not controlled.