title: Retinopathy in acute leukaemia at initial diagnosis: correlation of fundus lesions and haematological parameters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of retinal changes in newly diagnosed acute leukaemia patients, and to establish the relationship between retinal lesions and haematological parameters in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 127 patients with acute leukaemia (myeloid and lymphoid), of both genders, aged between 13 and 77 years, were examined by an ophthalmologist for retinal changes using direct/indirect ophthalmoscopy within 2 days of diagnosis before starting chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Retinal lesions were seen in 62 cases (49%), with intraretinal haemorrhages being the most common lesion (42%). A high white blood cell count was significantly associated with intraretinal haemorrhages (p = 0.04) and white-centred haemorrhages (p = 0.001), while a low platelet count was significantly associated with intraretinal haemorrhages (p = 0.03) in acute myeloid leukaemia patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high white blood cell count may be considered as important as a low platelet count in the pathogenesis of leukaemic retinopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia. screddy98@hotmail.com
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D010976:Platelet Count; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019572:Retinal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents