title: Outcome of retinopathy in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with peginterferon and ribavirin.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the incidence and outcome of retinopathy in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with peginterferon and ribavirin. A total of 74 hepatitis C patients with baseline eye exams and eye exams during therapy were included. Retinopathy was defined as development of cotton wool spots and/or intra-retinal hemorrhage. Demographics, hepatitis C viral characteristics, treatment and laboratory data, and eye exam findings were compared in groups with and without retinopathy. Retinopathy developed in 28 (38%), early in therapy. Pre-treatment eye exams did not predict risk of retinopathy. Therapy was continued in all but one; cotton wool spots resolved in 24 of 26. All nine patients with intra-retinal hemorrhage had resolution. No patient had retinopathy-related visual deterioration. Retinopathy is common with peginterferon therapy, but the outcome is favorable. Cessation of therapy for retinopathy is not warranted. Severe visual disturbances and scotomas deserve further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 800 Irving Avenue, Syracuse, NY, USA. mehtan@upstate.edu
authors.forename: Nilesh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Uma K
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Murthy
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kaul
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alpert
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abruzzese
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Teitelbaum
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a