Retinopathy and subconjunctival haemorrhage in patients with chronic viral hepatitis receiving interferon alfa.

Abstract

(BrJ Ophthalmol 1995; 79: 150-152)

Ocular changes due to systemic alpha-interferon therapy for hepatitis C

“…This variation can be explained by the amount of analyzed patients, the associated risk factors, and indication of IFN administration. Some studies report disappearance of the retinopathy even with maintenance of the therapy (2,4,12,16) , while others describe its persistence (13,15) . There are several clinical evolutions, and most of them are benign.…”

“…There are descriptions in the literature (1,4,(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) of retinal vascular abnormalities (retinal microvascular changes, presence of cotton-wool spots, intraretinal hemorrhages, retinal detachment) due to this drug. Mostly, the ocular changes are transient and asymptomatic (12)(13)16) .…”

“…Therapy with IFNα has been associated with the presence of systemic side effects, such as flu-like syndrome, arthralgia, platelet reduction, leukopenia (1) , depression, delirium, thyroid disorders (2) and ocular side effects (3)(4)(5)(8)(9)(10)(11) . There are descriptions in the literature (1,4,(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) of retinal vascular abnormalities (retinal microvascular changes, presence of cotton-wool spots, intraretinal hemorrhages, retinal detachment) due to this drug.…”

Bell’s palsy and choreiform movements during peginterferon α and ribavirin therapy

“…Thus cell-mediated immunity, augmented by peginterferon and ribavirin, may target Schwann cells of cranial nerve Ⅶ and consequently lead to facial paralysis. Another possible mechanism might involve microvascular lesions that result from vasculitis or vasospasm, because there is evidence of IFN-α-induced retinal abnormalities, including ischemic lesions, cotton wool exudate, capillary occlusion or retinal hemorrhage [15,16] . To the best of our knowledge, four cases of chorea, associated with IFN-α were have been reported in the literature so far [17][18][19][20] .…”

Ophthalmologic findings in hepatitis C patients treated with pegylated interferon α-2b and ribavirin

“…Ribavirin has a fewer side effects among which hemolytic anemia being the most frequent one (7) . Studies have reported an association of these compounds with optic neuropathy (7) , retinopathy (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14) , subconjunctival hemorrhage (8) , cystoid macular edema (15) , and retinal and choroidal perfusion deficiency (16) . The objective of this study is to identify possible alterations in ocular fundus examination upon start of the treatment, as well as to analyze the changes in visual acuity and visual field.…”