Korean J Ophthalmol.  2010 Apr;24(2):131-133. 10.3341/kjo.2010.24.2.131.

Case of Bilateral Retinal Neovascularization Associated with Chronic Idiopathic Myelofibrosis

• Kim MJ
• Yu HG

• KMID: 946007
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2010.24.2.131

Abstract

We report a case of bilateral peripheral retinal neovascularization and chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis in a 69-year-old man. Ophthalmic examination revealed peripheral retinal nonperfusion with retinal neovascularization in both eyes and vitreous hemorrhage in the right eye. Fluorescein angiography of both eyes showed a marked midperipheral and peripheral avascular retina temporally with arteriovenous anastomosis and sea-fan neovascularizations. Blood tests showed pancytopenia and teardrop-shaped red blood cells, and bone marrow examination showed hypocellular marrow with severe fibrosis. The neovascularization was regressed following pars plana vitrectomy in the right eye and scatter laser photocoagulation in the left. The results suggest that peripheral retinal vessel occlusion and neovascularization may be associated with idiopathic myelofibrosis.

Keyword

Pancytopenia; Primary myelofibrosis; Retinal neovascularization; Retinal vessels; Vitreous hemorrhage

MeSH Terms

Aged
Chronic Disease
Fluorescein Angiography
Humans
Light Coagulation
Male
Primary Myelofibrosis/*complications
Retinal Neovascularization/*complications/therapy
Visual Acuity
Vitrectomy
Vitreous Hemorrhage/*complications/therapy

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Fundus photography of the right eye showing a vitreous hemorrhage.

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  Fig. 2 (A) Fluorescein angiography of the right eye showing a peripheral arterial occlusion and multiple microaneurysms with sea-fans. (B) Fluorescein angiography of the left eye showing a peripheral arterial occlusion, a veno-arterial shunt vessel and neovascularization.

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  Fig. 3 (A) Fluorescein angiography of the right eye four weeks after pars plana vitrectomy and endolaser photocoagulation. (B) Fluorescein angiography of the left eye four weeks after argon laser photocoagulation showing good laser scars with regressing neovascularization.

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