title: Loss of vision associated with angioid streaks in beta-thalassemia intermedia.
abstract: An acquired diffuse elastic tissue defect that resembles inherited pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) has been noticed with a significant age-related frequency in hemoglobin disorders, especially beta-thalassemia and has been held responsible for a number of complications observed in these cases, some of which are quite severe. We report here two patients with beta-thalassemia intermedia, who presented with severe visual acuity impairment associated with angioid streaks, the typical ocular manifestation of PXE.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Athens Medical School, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aessopos
authors.forename: Charalampos S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Floudas
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kati
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsironi
authors.forename: Xanthoula
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Giakoumi
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Livir-Rallatos
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Farmakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000793:Angioid Streaks / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications*