title: Posterior segment complications in patients with hepatitis C treated with interferon and ribavirin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence and type of posterior segment complications associated with the use of interferon alpha 2b and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective noncomparative case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two patients (84 eyes).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with chronic hepatitis C were evaluated for ocular changes while being treated with interferon alpha 2b and ribavirin. Patients were followed with sequential ocular examinations for 4 to 20 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Occurrence of posterior segment complications while on interferon and ribavirin therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-seven patients developed retinopathy. The retinopathy consisted of single-to-multiple cotton-wool spots and retinal hemorrhage and was transient in all cases. An additional patient (age 46) presented with asymptomatic disc edema and hemorrhage. One other individual developed a symptomatic permanent monocular visual field defect. Therapy was discontinued in three patients because of severe posterior segment pathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrated that a high incidence of retinopathy is associated with the treatment of hepatitis C using interferon and ribavirin, but that this form of retinopathy is relatively benign. Regular ophthalmic monitoring should be performed in patients undergoing this treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA.
authors.forename: Joel A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schulman
authors.forename: Chanping
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Lakshmana M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Kooragayala
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D014794:Visual Fields
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin