title: Pegylated interferon-associated severe retinopathy in a patient with chronic hepatitis.
abstract: This paper reports a case of pegylated interferon-associated retinopathy in a patient with chronic hepatitis C. A 32-year-old female with chronic hepatitis C undergoing pegylated interferon and ribavirin combination therapy complained of visual blurring. Features of interferon-associated retinopathy, including ocular complications such as cotton wool spots, retinal hemorrhages, macular edema, and branch retinal vein occlusion, were found in the fundus of both of her eyes. Pegylated interferon combination therapy was stopped, and the retinopathy of the patient was treated with intravitreal bevacizumab injections and panretinal photocoagulations. This case shows that pharmacokinetically improved pegylated interferon has ocular complications for patients with chronic hepatitis C. Accordingly, patients undergoing pegylated interferon treatment for hepatitis C need regular eye examinations for protection of their vision.
authors.affiliation: Konyang University Kim's Eye Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Min Chul
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects; D012173:Retinitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b