Fenretinide-associated multilayered retinal hemorrhage in a patient with hairy cell leukemia

Intravenous fenretinide (4-HPR), a cytotoxic retinoid, is being evaluated as part of a phase I clinical trial for patients with hematologic malignancies. In its orally administered form, it is also being evaluated for the treatment of various malignancies and geographic atrophy in subjects with the dry form of age-related macular degeneration. The authors report a case of acute large subretinal and intraretinal hemorrhage noted immediately after initiation of intravenous fenretinide therapy in a patient with hairy cell leukemia. This case highlights the importance of considering multilayered retinal hemorrhage as a possible side effect of fenretinide therapy, especially in patients with underlying hematologic abnormalities.