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Published on: April 14, 2014
MULTIMODAL IMAGING IN DEFEROXAMINE-RELATED OCULAR TOXICITY: RAPID DEVELOPMENT DUE TO SUPRATHERAPEUTIC DOSING AND
Elisah M Huynh1, Mahmood Khan2, Yanhan Ren1
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Purpose:
To characterize evolution of deferoxamine-related retinal toxicity in a patient exposed to supratherapeutic doses of deferoxamine and progression despite dose reduction and cessation.
Methods:
Observational clinical case report.
Results:
A 59-year-old woman with history of beta thalassemia requiring biweekly blood transfusions developed peripheral visual field loss and nyctalopia after taking supratherapeutic dosage of deferoxamine. She demonstrated progressive retinal pigment epithelium thickening and photoreceptor loss despite reduction in dosage because she was unable to initially discontinue the medication, because vision decreased from 20/25 and 20/30 to 20/60 and 20/50. This report highlights the ocular toxicities linked with deferoxamine and examines whether dosage decrease reverses its effects.
Conclusion:
Deferoxamine use can precipitate retinal pigment epithelium changes, thickening, and photoreceptor loss that can progress despite dose reduction and cessation.
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