Essential thrombocythemia: a rare case of central retinal artery occlusion.

Abstract

Essential thrombocythemia is a myeloproliferative disorder with an increased amount of abnormal platelets, causing both hemorrhagic and thrombotic pathology. Some of its systemic complications include deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary emboli, myocardial infarcts, and renal vessel thrombosis among others. We present the rare case of a woman suffering from essential thrombocythemia with the sudden loss of vision in her right eye, caused by central retinal artery occlusion. A possible connection between these two disorders is discussed.