title: Treatment of Mooren's ulcer with topical administration of interferon alfa 2a.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report an apparently beneficial effect of topical interferon alfa 2a (IFNalpha2a) as a single therapeutic agent in the treatment of Mooren's ulcer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two case reports.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two consecutive patients with unilateral Mooren's ulcer diagnosed at the cornea service of Gulhane Military Medical Academy from December 2004 to December 2005 were studied retrospectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with a clinical diagnosis of Mooren's ulcer were treated with topical IFNalpha2a until their lesions resolved.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of medical records was performed to assess the duration and response to treatment with topical IFNalpha2a drops, defined by clinical resolution of Mooren's ulcer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Symptoms and signs in 2 eyes improved during the first week of treatment, and reepithelialization was achieved at 7 and 10 days. Visual acuity levels reached 20/25 and 20/30 within 1 month of treatment. No recurrences were observed during 1 year and 6 months of follow up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical IFNalpha2a as a single therapeutic agent was an effective alternative in the treatment of our 2 patients with Mooren's ulcer. It offers the benefits of topical therapy and avoided surgical or other interventions that may lead to stem cell deficiency. Larger controlled studies are necessary to confirm the long-term efficacy and safety of this treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. erdemuzeyir@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Uzeyir
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Erdem
authors.forename: Hurkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kerimoglu
authors.forename: Fatih Cakir
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Gundogan
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dagli
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011994:Recombinant Proteins