Journal List > J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > v.56(8) > 1010064

Young Shin, Du Ri, Han, Park, and Young-Hoon: Two Cases of Retinal Hemorrhage in Alcoholic Cirrhosis

Abstract

Purpose

To report 2 cases of retinal hemorrhage due to anemia and thrombocytopenia in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.

Case summary

(Case 1) A 45-year-old female with alcoholic cirrhosis who was treated in the gastroenterology department pre-sented with reduced vision in both eyes. Fundus examination showed multiple preretinal and subretinal hemorrhages with mac-ular involvement in both eyes. Hematological findings revealed severe anemia and thrombocytopenia. One month after the transfusion treatment her visual acuity was improved and retinal hemorrhages resolved. (Case 2) A 47-year-old male presented with painless loss of vision in the left eye 3 days after orthotopic liver transplantation for the treatment of alcoholic cirrhosis. Fundus examination showed preretinal hemorrhages in both eyes with macular involvement in the left eye. During the trans-plantation, hematological findings revealed severe anemia and thrombocytopenia. Three months after the transfusion treatment his visual acuity was improved and retinal hemorrhages nearly completely resolved.

Conclusions

Hematological abnormalities due to alcoholic cirrhosis can cause retinal hemorrhage. In the present cases the reti-nal hemorrhages were resorbed and the visual acuity recovered.

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Figure 1.
Fundus photographs (A, B) and fluorescein angiography (C, D) finding of both eyes at initial visit. Fundus photographs show preretinal and subretinal hemorrhages. Fluorescein angiography show blocked fluo-resceins caused by retinal hemorrhages. Fundus photographs (E, F) at 1 month after the initial visit show reso-lution of hemorrhages.
jkos-56-1284f1.tif
Figure 2.
Fundus photograph (A, B) of both eyes showing well-circumscribed preretinal hemorrhages, including a large premacular hemorrhage of the left eye. Arrow indicates optical coherence tomography scanning line shown in (C, D). Optical coherence tomography (C, D) of both eyes showing sub-internal limiting membrane hemorrhages. Fundus photograph (E, F) of both eyes at 3 months follow-up with nearly complete resolution of hemorrhages. Arrow indicates optical coherence tomography scanning line shown in (G, H). Optical coherence tomography (G, H) of both eyes at 3 months follow-up.
jkos-56-1284f2.tif
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