Purpose: The aim of this study was to report a case of adult T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL), which presented with diffuse anterior scleritis and increased intraocular pressure.
Methods: This is a case report.
Results: A 57-year-old man presented with bilateral conjunctival hyperemia and chemosis associated with pain. He also complained of having fatigue, general weakness, and disequilibrium. His visual acuity was 20/20 bilaterally. His intraocular pressures were 34 mm Hg oculus dexter (OD) and 35 mm Hg oculus sinister (OS). His anterior segments were noted for moderate conjunctival injection, deep anterior chambers with +2 anterior chamber cells and flare, no abnormalities of iris structures, and mild nuclear sclerosis. His optic discs showed vertical cup-to-disc ratios of 0.4 oculus dexter and 0.7 oculus sinister. On B-scan ultrasonography, mild fluid in the sub-Tenon space and a thickening of the uvea were observed in both eyes. The patient was diagnosed with bilateral diffuse anterior scleritis and secondary glaucoma. Systemic evaluation revealed adult T-PLL with pulmonary, abdominal, and pelvic adenopathy; pleural effusion; and central nervous system (CNS) involvement. He was treated with systemic alemtuzumab and intrathecal alternating cytarabine/hydrocortisone and methotrexate/hydrocortisone. His lymphadenopathy decreased in size and the pleural effusion, scleritis, and secondary glaucoma resolved; however, his CNS disease was unresponsive. He was therefore given craniospinal irradiation with a total dose of 29.4 Gy. Despite radiotherapy, the CNS disease progressed, and the patient died 19 months after the presentation.
Conclusions: Scleritis with secondary glaucoma, although usually associated with inflammatory conditions, can rarely be a manifestation of adult T-PLL.