Optic neuropathy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Jon N. Currie, Simmons Lessell, Jayne S. Weiss, Daniel M. Albert, Irma M. Lessell, Elizabeth M. Benson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ophthalmic and neurologic involvement in chronic lymphocytic leukemia is uncommon, and if it does occur, it is usually only late in the course of the disease. We report three cases in which progressive visual loss from optic nerve infiltration was an early clinical manifestation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Progressive optic atrophy with loss of acuity and visual field occurred in all cases, preceded in one patient by transient visual obscurations and disc edema. Surface marker studies of cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytes were useful in differentiating leukemic optic nerve infiltration from other causes of optic nerve damage. Optic nerve irradiation gave considerable clinical improvement in all three cases.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)654-660
Number of pages7
JournalArchives of ophthalmology
Volume106
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1988
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ophthalmology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Optic neuropathy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this