Efficacy of Interferon-α for the Treatment of Kaposi’s Sarcoma Herpesvirus-Associated Uveitis

• Published in: American journal of ophthalmology 2005-10, Vol.140 (4), p.746-748
• Main Authors: Brasnu, Emmanuelle, Wechsler, Bertrand, Bron, Alain, Charlotte, Frederic, Bliefeld, Philippe, Lehoang, Phuc, Marcelin, Anne-Genevieve, Bodaghi, Bahram
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; Child; Conjunctivitis - pathology; Conjunctivitis - virology; Dermatology; DNA, Viral - analysis; Eye Infections, Viral - drug therapy; Eye Infections, Viral - virology; Female; Herpesvirus 8, Human - genetics; Herpesvirus 8, Human - isolation & purification; Humans; Interferon-alpha - therapeutic use; Life Sciences; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Ophthalmology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Recombinant Proteins; Sarcoma, Kaposi - drug therapy; Sarcoma, Kaposi - virology; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions; Uvea diseases; Uveitis - drug therapy; Uveitis - virology
• ISSN: 0002-9394; 1879-1891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2005.04.025

To report cases of uveitis that are associated with human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) and the impact of interferon-α therapy on their visual outcome. Interventional case reports. Extensive examination was performed in patients with chronic and severe uveitis to exclude a viral cause that requires specific therapy. After histopathologic, molecular, and/or serologic confirmation of HHV-8 uveitis, interferon-α2a therapy (3 millions IU/d, 3 days per week, subcutaneously) was initiated. Two patients of Mediterranean origin were included. HHV-8 serologic result was positive in both cases. Histopathologic examination of conjunctival biopsy specimens confirmed Kaposi’s sarcoma in the second case, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction identified HHV-8 DNA in the biopsy specimen. Disease was controlled by interferon-α2a in both cases, but maintenance therapy was mandatory to prevent relapses. HHV-8–associated uveitis is a rare condition in immunocompetent hosts. Severe and chronic conditions may require antiviral and immunomodulatory therapies. Interferon alpha seems to be a good candidate and may be proposed in these cases.