The Journal of pediatrics
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The Journal of pediatrics · Dec 1996
Review Case ReportsVitreous hemorrhage as an ophthalmic complication of galactosemia.
A major complication of galactosemia is cataracts. This is usually considered to be the sole ophthalmic feature of this disorder. However, we have encountered vitreous hemorrhage, a very rare ophthalmic finding, in five neonates with galactosemia and have found four probable additional cases in the literature. ⋯ Retinal abnormalities were present in the involved eyes of the five neonates of whom we have direct knowledge. Thus we believe that retinal hemorrhage is the most likely source of the vitreous hemorrhage and that the coagulopathy associated with neonatal disease in galactosemia leads to vitreous hemorrhage. Prompt recognition and therapy for the coagulopathy would likely prevent vitreous hemorrhage in galactosemia.