Title:Conspicuous Peripheral Retinal Hemorrhages with a Relatively Preserved
Posterior Pole in Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Volume: 20
Author(s): Cemal Çavdarlı*, Hülya Güvenç, Sebile Çomçalı, Çiğdem Coşkun and Mehmet Numan Alp
Affiliation:
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara City Hospital, Bilkent, Ankara 06230, Turkey
Keywords:
Facial paralyses, Retina, Haemorrhage, Immune thrombocytopenic purpura, Haematological disease, haemoglobin.
Abstract:
Background:
Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a rare auto-antibody mediated disease of isolated thrombocytopenia (<100,000/μL) with normal
haemoglobin levels and leukocyte counts. Only a small number of ITP cases have been reported with accompanying ophthalmological findings.
Herein, we report an ITP case with demonstrative retinal haemorrhages.
Case Presentation:
A fifty-five-year-old woman with a known history of type 2 diabetes mellitus was referred to our clinic with blurred vision. After detailed
anamnesis and clinical assessment, she was diagnosed as primary ITP in haematology department, and systemic steroid (1.5mg/kg) therapy was
initiated. During her follow-up, a concomitant peripheral facial paralysis (PFP) emerged. In the course of follow-up, her platelet counts increased
gradually, the retinal haemorrhages regressed partially, and the PFP recovered completely.
Conclusion:
ITP is a rare haematologic disease that sometimes manifests with additional systemic involvements, and this disease should be remembered in the
differential diagnosis of unusual retinal haemorrhages, which might be the only presenting feature.
