title: Branch retinal artery occlusion and central retinal vein occlusion associated with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: A 62-year-old male treated with pegylated interferon α-2b plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C complained of sudden painless decreased visual acuity. This patient was diagnosed as having simultaneous occlusions of the branch retinal artery and central retinal vein, although he had no history of major risk factors for retinal vessel (artery and vein) occlusion. Unfortunately, visual acuity did not completely recover. Furthermore, the patient was heterozygous for interleukin (IL) 28B genetic polymorphisms. The etiology of interferon-associated retinal vessel occlusion is not yet clear. However, a review based on previous case reports suggested that some factors including ribavirin might act as a risk or cause of retinal vessel occlusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan. masaaki@kitasato-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Sumie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogasawara
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Juichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okuwaki
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Minamino
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hidaka
authors.forename: Takahide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakazawa
authors.forename: Akitaka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shibuya
authors.forename: Wasaburo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Koizumi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014792:Visual Acuity; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b