Cataract induced by short-term administration of large doses of busulfan: a case report

Busulfan is a carcinostatic which is used for myelocytic leukemia. A 42-yea r-old Japanese woman given high doses of busulfan for a short time was refe rred to us because of decreased visual acuity and blurred vision in both ey es. She received 212 mg/day of busulfan for only 4 days. Ophthalmoscopic ex amination demonstrated a posterior polar subcapsular opacity of the lens in both eyes. Although the occurrence of cataract due to busulfan has been re ported after long-term administration of busulfan, this is the first clinic al case of cataract caused by high doses of busulfan for a short period. It is necessary to pay more attention to busulfan cataract. Copyright (C) 199 9 S. Karger AG, Basel.