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Updated: Aug 29, 2026
Flow Cytometry to Estimate Leukemia Stem Cells in Primary Acute Myeloid Leukemia and in Patient-derived-xenografts, at Diagnosis and Follow Up
Published on: March 26, 2018
Retinopathy in acute leukaemia at initial diagnosis: correlation of fundus lesions and haematological parameters
1Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia. screddy98@hotmail.com
Purpose:
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.
