FP241

ROTH SPOTS IN ANEMIA

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 46 old female patient was referred from medicine department for fundus examination with history of generalised weakness since 4 months and diabetes since 6 months. She had history of blood transfusion
ON EXAMINATION: 
                            RE                   LE
Vision                6/9                 6/9
Pinhole             6/6                 6/6
The slit-lamp examination and tonometry were normal(BE)
Dilated fundus examination revealed multiple scattered flame shaped hemorrhages with central white areas suggestive of roth spots.
CONCLUSION: Roth spots have been believed to be pathognomonic of subacute bacterial endocarditis. But it is also seen in other conditions like toxoplasmosis, HIV, leukaemia, diabetic retinopathy,vasculitis, neonatal birth trauma and non-accidental trauma .The exact pathogenesis is unknown, but the proposed mechanism may be attributed to rupture of retinal blood vessels followed by platelets and fibrin aggregation.