This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

David R. Guyer, MD; James Tiedeman, MD, PhD; Lawrence A. Yannuzzi, MD; Jason S. Slakter, MD; David Parke, MD; James Kelley, MD; Rosa A. Tang, MD; Michael Marmor, MD; Gary Abrams, MD; Joan W. Miller, MD; Evangelos S. Gragoudas, MD

Arch Ophthalmol. 1993;111(3):350-356.

Abstract
• Interferon alfa is used to treat various systemic disorders and recently has been suggested as a possible treatment for choroidal neovascularization. We report 10 cases of retinal ischemia associated with the use of interferon alfa for various illnesses. The retinal findings include cotton-wool spot formation, capillary nonperfusion, arteriolar occlusion, and hemorrhage. The retinal complications may sometimes be reversible when treatment is stopped. Our findings emphasize the need to have patients who are receiving interferon alfa therapy monitored for these retinal complications, which may rarely be associated with permanent loss of vision secondary to closure of retinal capillaries.

Author Affiliations
From the Retinal Research Laboratory, Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital, New York, NY (Drs Guyer, Yannuzzi, and Slakter); Duke University Eye Center, Durham, NC (Dr Tiedeman); Department of Ophthalmology, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City (Dr Parke); Department of Ophthalmology, Greater Baltimore (Md) Medical Center (Dr Kelley); Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston (Dr Tang); Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif (Dr Marmor); Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (Dr Abrams); and the Retina Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (Drs Miller and Gragoudas). Dr Tiedeman is now with the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication December 17, 1992.

Reprint requests to Retinal Research Laboratory, Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital, 210 E 64th St, New York, NY 10021 (Dr Guyer).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

INTERFERON {beta}-ASSOCIATED RETINOPATHY IN PATIENTS TREATED FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Folden et al.
Neurology 2008;70:1153-1155.
FULL TEXT  

Efficacy and safety of interferon-{alpha} in the treatment of corticodependent uveitis of paediatric Behcet's disease
Guillaume-Czitrom et al.
Rheumatology (Oxford) 2007;46:1570-1573.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Symptomatic interferon retinopathy successfully treated by hypertension management
Han and O'Day
Br J Ophthalmol 2007;91:1250-1251.
FULL TEXT  

Retinopathy in a multiple sclerosis patient undergoing interferon-therapy
Saito et al.
Mult Scler 2007;13:939-940.
ABSTRACT  

Retinal Circulatory Changes Associated with Interferon-Induced Retinopathy in Patients with Hepatitis C
Nagaoka et al.
IOVS 2007;48:368-375.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Is screening for interferon retinopathy in hepatitis C justified?
Cuthbertson et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2004;88:1518-1520.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Interleukin-6 in Retinal Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Rats
Sanchez et al.
IOVS 2003;44:4006-4011.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Effects of interferon {alpha} treatment on the clinical course of refractory Behcet's disease: an open study
Calguneri et al.
Ann Rheum Dis 2003;62:492-493.
FULL TEXT  

Human recombinant interferon alfa-2a for the treatment of Behcet's disease with sight threatening posterior or panuveitis
Kotter et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2003;87:423-431.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Severe interferon associated retinopathy
Tu et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2003;87:247-248.
FULL TEXT  

Interferon-Associated Retinopathy and Cystoid Macular Edema
Tokai et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2001;119:1077-1079.
FULL TEXT  

Distant cancer effects on standardised testing of peripheral vision
Dawson et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2001;85:291-296.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Combined Choroidal and Retinal Ischemia During Interferon Therapy: Indocyanine Green Angiographic and Microperimetric Findings
Hoerauf et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2000;118:580-582.
FULL TEXT  

Cytokine Therapy in Eye Disease
Okada
Arch Ophthalmol 1998;116:1514-1516.
FULL TEXT  

Treatment of ocular symptoms of Behcet's disease with interferon alpha 2a: a pilot study
Kötter et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 1998;82:488-494.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Interferon associated retinopathy
HAYASAKA et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 1998;82:323-325.
FULL TEXT  

Interferon Alfa-2a Is Ineffective for Patients With Choroidal Neovascularization Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Results of a Prospective Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Pharmacological Therapy for Macular Degeneration S
Arch Ophthalmol 1997;115:865-872.
ABSTRACT  

Occult Choroidal Neovascularization in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Natural History Study
Stevens et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 1997;115:345-350.
ABSTRACT  

Interferon Alfa Induces Leukocyte Capillary Trapping in Rat Retinal Microcirculation
Nishiwaki et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 1996;114:726-730.
ABSTRACT  

Interferon: Friend or Foe?
Tang
Arch Ophthalmol 1995;113:987-987.
ABSTRACT  

Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Secondary to Interferon Alfa
Purvin
Arch Ophthalmol 1995;113:1041-1044.
ABSTRACT  

Diseases of the Retina
D'Amico
NEJM 1994;331:95-106.
FULL TEXT  

Advising Patients About Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Fine
Arch Ophthalmol 1993;111:1186-1188.
ABSTRACT