Fundus Findings in Leukemia and Various Anemias

ABSTRACT

The authors carried out the funduscopic examination in 53 cases of leukemia (acute myeloblastic leukemia 17, acute lymphoblastic leukemia 2.0, acute monocytic leukemia 9, chronic myelogenous leukemia 5, acute progranulocytic leukemia 2) and 51 cases of various anemias (aplastic anemia 37, iron deficiency anemia, secondary anemia due to bleeding 4, miscellaneous 4) which were confirmed by hematological studies at Kyung-Pook National University Hospital from October 1969 to October 1975. The following results were obtained. 1) Of 53 cases of leukemia, 62% revealed retinopathy with retinal homorrhage. In 65% of 17 cases of acute myeloblastic leukemia, 55% of 2.0 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 77 % of 9 cases of acute monocytic leukemia, and 4.0% of 5 cases of chronic myelogenous leukemia, retinopathies were noted. 2) Of 51 cases of anemia, 45% revealed retinopathy with retinal hemorrhage. In 49% of 37 cases of aplastic anemia, and 33% of 6 cases of iron deficiency anemia, retinopathies were noted, but none of secondary anemia due to blood loss had retinal hemorrhage. 3) Acute leukemia had more retinal hemorrhage frequency than chronic leukemia. 4) The extent of the retinal hemorrhages seemed to parallel the severity of the anemia in aplastic anemia. 5) Generally the thrombocytopenia was noted in the aplastic anemia but the extent of the retinal hemorrhages not seemed to parallel the severity of the thrombocytopenia. 6) The extent of the retinal hemorrhages seemed to parallel the severity of the anemia in iron deficiency anemia. 7) Specific retinal pictures could not be noted in the various blood dyscrasias. 8) With the retinal pictures, no differentiation on type of the leukemia and the anemia could be noted.