A case of acute lymphocytic leukemia with bilateral optic symptoms to those of ischemic optic neuropathy after bone marrow transplantation

We report a case of acute lymphocytic leukemia with bilateral optic symptoms that were similar to those of ischemic optic neuropathy. A 37-year- old female noticed a visual defect in her right eye 50 days after allogeneic marrow transplantation, when she reached complete hematologic remission. Because radiation was effective in relieving her symptoms, we concluded that they were due to leukemic optic neuropathy. Eight months after the onset of symptoms in the right eye, however, the same symptoms appeared in the other eye. Because radiation was not effective and steroid drugs were effective, it is presumed that graft versus host disease may have contributed to this patient's symptoms.