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. 2001 Oct;85(10):1171-3.
doi: 10.1136/bjo.85.10.1171.

Retinopathy in chronic hepatitis C patients during interferon treatment with ribavirin

K Jain  1 , W C Lam, S Waheeb, Q Thai, J Heathcote
Affiliations

Retinopathy in chronic hepatitis C patients during interferon treatment with ribavirin

K Jain et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 2001 Oct.

Abstract

Aim: To assess the ocular effect of interferon alfa 2b prescribed with ribavirin in patients undergoing therapy for chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: 19 patients with chronic hepatitis C who satisfied the follow up criteria were assessed for ocular complications using slit lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy before, during, and after the treatment at regular intervals.

Results: 8/19 patients, while on treatment, developed an asymptomatic retinopathy. Among these 3/8 were relapsers and 5/9 were non-responders to interferon monotherapy. All retinal changes faded, often while the patients continued the therapy. There was no significant association in occurrence of retinopathy with haematological and/or biochemical changes.

Conclusion: Retinopathy was more common in interferon monotherapy non-responders than relapsers when treated with interferon alfa 2b with the addition of ribavirin. The changes were transient, disappearing while the patients were still being treated.

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