Leukemic retinopathy presenting as concurrent bilateral subhyaloid hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage in a patient with acute monocytic leukemia: a case report

Ophthalmic manifestations are common in patients with leukemia, developing in nearly 50% of cases. Intracranial hemorrhage is another potentially fatal complication of leukemia. In this case report, we aim to present a challenging case that involves both ophthalmic and intracranial manifestations in an individual with acute monocytic leukemia.

A 36-year-old Persian male presented to the emergency room with complaints of fever, headache, and bilateral blurred vision. The patient had been diagnosed with acute monocytic leukemia 3 months prior and had undergone four sessions of induction chemotherapy, the last of which was 10 days prior to admission. The patient was admitted to the internal medicine service, and initial lab studies confirmed pancytopenia, including severe neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Subarachnoid hemorrhage in the left frontal lobe was detected through spiral brain computed tomography scan. Ophthalmic examination revealed visual acuity of light perception in the right eye and 3-m finger count in the left eye. Fundus examination revealed bilateral peripapillary subhyaloid and intraretinal hemorrhages, confirming leukemic retinopathy. The patient showed significant improvement in visual acuity and hemorrhage resolution through conservative treatment and regular follow-ups after 3 months.

Simultaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage and bilateral subhyaloid hemorrhages seemed to have occurred as a result of pancytopenia. Management approach of ophthalmic manifestations of leukemia involves interdisciplinary cooperation and should be individualized on the basis of the patients’ underlying medical condition.