Purpose: To describe the clinical characteristics and treatment of recurrent central serous retinopathy (CSR) following bone marrow transplantation (BMT).
Methods: Between June 1998 and September 1999, 116 patients underwent allogeneic BMT at Hadassah Medical Center. Ocular complaints were expressed by 57.8% of these patients, who were examined and followed by the same ophthalmologist every 2-4 weeks. The ocular examination included Schirmer's test, slit-lamp examination, tonometry, and dilated funduscopy. If fundus abnormalities were noted, fluorescein angiography and indocyanine-green chorioangiography were performed.
Results: Three patients presented with BMT-induced relapsing CSR. The severity of the CSR correlated well with the dosage of the systemic corticosteroids. These patients were eventually treated with laser photocoagulation, which, in all cases, resolved the CSR and improved visual acuity. During a 3-4 year follow-up period, no recurrence of CSR was documented despite continuous systemic corticosteroid treatment.
Conclusions: In BMT patients, chronic corticosteroid treatment can cause a persistent/relapsing CSR. Since corticosteroids cannot be discontinued in such cases, photocoagulation should be considered at an early stage to prevent continuous ocular morbidity.