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Case Reports
. 2013 Jul 17:2013:bcr2013009205.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-009205.

Reversible retinopathy associated with oral deferasirox therapy

Affiliations
Case Reports

Reversible retinopathy associated with oral deferasirox therapy

Harpreet S Walia et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

A 17-year-old girl with a history of sickle cell anaemia undergoing chronic blood transfusions and iron-chelation therapy presented for multiple ophthalmic examinations. During treatment with deferoxamine, her examination remained stable but 2 years after changing to deferasirox she presented with decreased visual acuity and only mild funduscopic changes. Marked electrophysiological abnormalities were also evident. After cessation of deferasirox, her visual acuity improved and electrophysiological responses improved. No prior reports of deferasirox-related retinopathy are available. We suggest that oral deferasirox caused a reversible retinopathy in our patient and clinicians be aware of this entity.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Colour fundus photographs revealing mild macular pigment abnormalities.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Optical coherence tomography with normal foveal architecture.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Fluorescein angiography without vascular filling abnormality.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Fundus autofluorescence with mild retinal pigment epithelium dropout.
Figure 5
Figure 5
ERG with decrease in both rod and cone function and Goldmann visual fields with central scotomas in both eyes.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Repeat ERG with improved electrophysiological responses in both eyes and Goldmann visual fields with mild improvement of scotomas.

References

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