Retinal hemorrhage associated with neonatal idiopathic thrombocytopenia.

PURPOSE: To describe a premature neonate with thrombocytopenia and retinal hemorrhage.

OBSERVATION: A 33 week premature neonate with neonatal thrombocytopenia (34 × 109 platelet) was found to have left eye retinal hemorrhage. Bilateral retinal exam showed a healthy optic nerve and macula. A 10-12 disc diameter large nasal subretinal hemorrhage with an intraretinal white-centered hemorrhage was found. No other retinal abnormalities were found. Resolution of the hemorrhage occurred over the next three months. By this time, thrombocytopenia resolved (final platelet count: 259 × 109/L), and the patient was able to fix and follow.

CONCLUSIONS AND

IMPORTANCE

Neonatal thrombocytopenia associated retinal hemorrhage is not commonly reported in the literature. Further research will elucidate whether newborn retinal screening should be recommended for all neonates with thrombocytopenia.