Visual field results and optic disc morphology in patients treated with allogeneic stem-cell transplantation in...

This study aimed to describe the Rarebit (RB) visual field and optic nerve size/morphology in patients treated with allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (SCT) in childhood, and to determine the impact of ocular status and conditioning regimens such as total body irradiation (TBI), chemotherapy and/or immunosuppressive drugs on the RB visual field.

Ocular fundi were evaluated in 79 patients. Digital analyses regarding optic disc area (DA), rim area (RA) and cup area (CA) were performed in 45 of 49 patients. RB visual field testing was performed in 53 of 79 patients. The mean hit rate (MHR) was compared to corneal status, cataract, diagnosis and pre and post-SCT treatment. Two groups of healthy children and young adults (RB = 51, disc analysis = 49) were used as controls.

The SCT patients, examined at a median age of 15.4 years, had a significantly lower MHR [median 91% (range 45-99) right eye and 91% (range 41-91) left eye] compared to controls [median 96% (range 78-100) right eye]. SCT patients treated surgically for cataract and with intraocular lenses (IOLs) had a significantly lower MHR compared to other SCT patients. The MHR was also significantly influenced by type of conditioning. Patients conditioned with chemotherapy other than busulfan had significantly better MHR compared to those who had received single-dose TBI. SCT patients had a significantly larger CA and smaller RA than the controls.

Patients treated with SCT in childhood have a significantly lower MHR than controls when examined with RB. Also, patients surgically treated for cataract and with IOL implantation had a significantly lower MHR.