Acute loss of vision during therapy of chronic hepatitis C

• Published in: Der Ophthalmologe : Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft 2011-06, Vol.108 (6), p.561
• Main Authors: Salgado, J P, Khoramnia, R, Maier, M M, Lohmann, C P, Winkler von Mohrenfels, C
• Format: Article
• Language: ger
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized - therapeutic use; Antiviral Agents - adverse effects; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Bevacizumab; Drug Therapy, Combination; Fluorescein Angiography; Hepatitis C, Chronic - drug therapy; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Interferon-alpha - adverse effects; Interferon-alpha - therapeutic use; Intravitreal Injections; Macular Edema - chemically induced; Macular Edema - drug therapy; Male; Polyethylene Glycols - adverse effects; Polyethylene Glycols - therapeutic use; Recombinant Proteins - adverse effects; Recombinant Proteins - therapeutic use; Retinal Vein Occlusion - chemically induced; Retinal Vein Occlusion - drug therapy; Ribavirin - adverse effects; Ribavirin - therapeutic use; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Vision, Low - chemically induced; Vision, Low - diagnosis; Visual Acuity - drug effects
• ISSN: 1433-0423
• DOI: 10.1007/s00347-010-2327-0

A patient undergoing combined therapy of chronic hepatitis C with pegylated interferon-α-2a (PEG-IFN-α-2a) and ribavirin suddenly developed severe loss of visual acuity. A central vein occlusion with macular edema was found and intravitreal injections of bevacizumab were initiated. Retinal occlusion is a known complication of therapy with pegylated interferon-α-2a and ribavirin. An interdisciplinary assessment of patients treated for a chronic hepatitis C as well as an early anti-VEGF administration can be helpful in the therapy of this complication of chronic hepatitis C.