Published in:
01-11-2005 | Case Report
Massive bilateral vitreoretinal hemorrhage in patient with chronic refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
Published in: Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology | Issue 11/2005
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Background
We describe a patient with chronic, refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) who developed massive vitreoretinal hemorrhages in both eyes.
Methods
A 49-year-old woman complained of an acute decrease of vision, and ophthalmoscopy revealed bilateral preretinal and subretinal hemorrhages around the optic disc. Her platelet counts were less than 5000/μl in spite of repetitive administration of corticosteroids and immunoglobulins with splenectomy for the chronic refractory ITP. One month later, she developed massive vitreoretinal hemorrhages bilaterally, and vision decreased to hand-motion.
Results
Vitrectomy was performed on both eyes after medical treatment to increase platelet counts. The intraretinal hemorrhages were absorbed from the area around the disc and vision recovered to 20/100 in the right eye and 20/2000 in the left after one month.
Conclusion
Massive vitreoretinal hemorrhages can develop in patients with chronic refractory ITP, and vitrectomy can be beneficial for this condition.