title: Interferon alpha-2a in the treatment of exudative senile macular degeneration.
abstract: We performed a pilot study of 10 patients with the objective to determine the efficacy of interferon alpha-2a in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration with freshly diagnosed choroidal neovascular membrane. Interferon was given at a dose of 3 MIU/m2 three times a week for 8 weeks. Mean age of the patients was 74 years. In 3 patients we combined laser photocoagulation of extrafoveal part of the choroidal neovascular membrane to interferon therapy. The patients were followed up for 1 year after termination of interferon treatment. In 1 patient a visual improvement of two Snellen lines was noted, while in 7 patients visual acuity remained the same during the treatment (includes 3 patients treated with combined Krypton-laser photocoagulation). In 2 patients there was a decrease in acuity of one line. Six months later visual acuity had deteriorated in 7 patients and 1 year later all the patients had visual acuity < or = 20/200. We did not find any regression of choroidal neovascular membrane in fluorescein angiography in any of the patients during the treatment except the laser-treated area. At the 6-month follow-up there was still leakage or choroidal neovascular membrane growth in 6 patients. Combined interferon-laser therapy did not prove to be more effective in preventing the membrane growth. Side-effects included weakness, apathy, and fatigue in this elderly population. Our results indicate that treatment with 3 MIU/m2 interferon for 8 weeks is not an effective treatment for subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaakkola
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Anttila
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Immonen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins