title: Branch retinal vein thrombosis and visual loss probably associated with pegylated interferon therapy of chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: Ophthalmological complications with interferon therapy are usually mild and reversible, not requiring the withdrawal of the treatment. We report a case of a patient who had visual loss probably associated with interferon therapy. Chronic hepatitis C virus infection (genotype 1a) was diagnosed in a 33-year old asymptomatic man. His past medical history was unremarkable and previous routine ophthalmologic check-up was normal. Pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin were started. Three weeks later he reported painless reduction of vision. Ophthalmologic examination showed extensive intraretinal hemorrhages and cotton-wool spots, associated with inferior branch retinal vein thrombosis. Antiviral therapy was immediately discontinued, but one year later he persists with severely decreased visual acuity. This case illustrates the possibility of unpredictable and severe complications during pegylated interferon therapy.
authors.affiliation: Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória, Espírito Santo, and University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Brazil. lucianalofego@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Luciana Lofego
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Goncalves
authors.forename: Alberto Queiroz
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Farias
authors.forename: Patrícia Lofego
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Elbio-Antonio
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: D'Amico
authors.forename: Flair José
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Carrilho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b