Korean J Ophthalmol.  2012 Apr;26(2):147-150. 10.3341/kjo.2012.26.2.147.

Pegylated Interferon-Associated Severe Retinopathy in a Patient with Chronic Hepatitis

• Kang HY
• Shin MC

• KMID: 1364871
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2012.26.2.147

Abstract

This paper reports a case of pegylated interferon-associated retinopathy in a patient with chronic hepatitis C. A 32-year-old female with chronic hepatitis C undergoing pegylated interferon and ribavirin combination therapy complained of visual blurring. Features of interferon-associated retinopathy, including ocular complications such as cotton wool spots, retinal hemorrhages, macular edema, and branch retinal vein occlusion, were found in the fundus of both of her eyes. Pegylated interferon combination therapy was stopped, and the retinopathy of the patient was treated with intravitreal bevacizumab injections and panretinal photocoagulations. This case shows that pharmacokinetically improved pegylated interferon has ocular complications for patients with chronic hepatitis C. Accordingly, patients undergoing pegylated interferon treatment for hepatitis C need regular eye examinations for protection of their vision.

Keyword

Chronic hepatitis C; Interferon-associated retinopathy; Ocular vision; Pegyalted interferon

MeSH Terms

Adult
Angiogenesis Inhibitors/therapeutic use
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use
Antiviral Agents/*adverse effects
Female
Hepatitis C, Chronic/*drug therapy
Humans
Interferon-alpha/*adverse effects
Polyethylene Glycols/*adverse effects
Recombinant Proteins/adverse effects
Retinitis/*chemically induced/drug therapy
Severity of Illness Index

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Retinal hemorrhages, cotton wool spots, macular edema, and new vessels were found in both of the patient's eyes.

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  Fig. 2 (A,B) After intravitreal bevacizumab injections and panretinal photocoagulations, the cotton wool spots and retinal hemorrhages regressed, but the new vessels remained.

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  Fig. 3 At the late arteriovenous phase (A,B), many microaneurys and new vessels were found. At the mid-venous phase, non-perfusion was more severe in the left eye (D) than in the right eye (C).

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  Fig. 4 At the late arteriovenous phase (A,B) and mid-venous phase (C,D), new vessels and non-perfused areas progressed.

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