J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2011 Jan;52(1):41-45. 10.3341/jkos.2011.52.1.41.

Clinical Features of Retinopathy in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients With Treated With Peginterferon

• Kwon YD
• Lim JW

• KMID: 2214136
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2011.52.1.41

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the clinical features of retinopathy in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with peginterferon.
METHODS
Chronic hepatitis B patients treated with peginterferon were evaluated during regular routine ophthalmic examinations including fundus examination before and during the 1-year follow-up after treatment. A total of 88 patients were included in the study.
RESULTS
Retinopathy developed in 11 (12.5%) out of 88 patients at a mean of 7 weeks after initiation of treatment. Peginterferon treatment was continued in all patients and retinal abnormalities including cotton wool spot, retinal hemorrhage and microaneurysm resolved without visual impairment. The incidence of hypertension between the retinopathy group and the group without retinopathy was significantly different (P = 0.020).
CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of retinopathy with peginterferon in chronic hepatitis B patients was low and the prognosis was benign. Thus, routine screening for peginterferon retinopathy is not necessary.

Keyword

Chronic hepatitis B; Pegylated Interferon; Retinopathy

MeSH Terms

Follow-Up Studies
Hepatitis B, Chronic
Hepatitis, Chronic
Humans
Hypertension
Incidence
Mass Screening
Prognosis
Retinal Hemorrhage
Retinaldehyde
Vision Disorders
Wool
Retinaldehyde

Figure

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  Figure 1. The fundus photographs of peginterferon-associated-retinopathy in 36-year-old male patient. He started with peginterferon for treatment of chronic hepatitis B. After 1 month, cotton-wool spots with fluffy margin were noted at posterior fundus around the optic disc on both eyes. After 3 months, the lesions were completely disappeared without cessation of peginterferon.

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