The Effects of Recombinant Human Alpha-lnterferon on Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis

Kim, Jae Ho; Kim, Man Soo; Lee, Ha Beum; Kim, Jae Chan; Lee, Sung Won

Abstract

The one hundred ninty three patients of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) were treated with recombinant human alpha interferon (Re-Hu-INF-a eyedrop, 30,000IU/Vial, Cheil Foods and Chemicals Inc.) at kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College, Chungang University Hospital, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University and Kims's Eye Clinic and the following results were obtained after at least 21 days follow-up. 1. The total patients of EKC were 266; 193 of patients were treated with INF and another 73 patients were treated with antibiotic eye drop only as a control group. The age ranged from 3 to 79 year-old and the average age were 29.6 in interferon group and 36.3 in control group. 2. There was no significant difference between two groups in number of eyes involved. The frequencey of infection route was family, swimming pool, and eye clinic order. Adenovirus was the most common causative agent according to the cytopathic effect of HeLa cell inoculation. 3. In most of cases, there was little symptomatic manifestation, if ever, malaise was the most common systemic symptom in both groups. 4. The symptomatic improvement after INF treatment Was began at 3.8 days in INF group comparing to 10.8 days in control group. In INF treated group, the subjective symptom was disappeared in 70.5% of patients within 4 days. But in control gorup, disappearance of subjective symptom was noted in only 17.8% of patients and the results were statistically significant. 5. The eariler INF treatment, the better improvement of EKC and the sign improved first was foreign body sensation. 6. There was little side effect of INF treatment, but ocular pain was occurred in 8% From these results, we suggest that recombinant human alpha interferon eyedrop in EKC treatment is effective and the earlier application is more effective especially.