Clinical experience with interferon alfa-2a for exudative age-related macular degeneration

There has been recent interest in the use of systemic interferon alfa-2a treatment for choroidal neovascular membranes (CNV). Here a pilot study is reported in which 10 patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) have been treated with a course of interferon injections. Of nine e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of ophthalmology 1993-12, Vol.77 (12), p.766-770
Main Authors: Kirkpatrick, J N, Dick, A D, Forrester, J V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
Choroid - blood supply
Eye
Female
Fluorescein Angiography
Humans
Interferon alpha-2
Interferon-alpha - therapeutic use
Macular Degeneration - complications
Macular Degeneration - physiopathology
Macular Degeneration - therapy
Male
Medical sciences
Neovascularization, Pathologic - therapy
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Pilot Projects
Recombinant Proteins
Retinal Detachment - complications
Treatment Outcome
Visual Acuity
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Summary:There has been recent interest in the use of systemic interferon alfa-2a treatment for choroidal neovascular membranes (CNV). Here a pilot study is reported in which 10 patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) have been treated with a course of interferon injections. Of nine eyes with CNV there has been clinical and angiographic improvement in one eye and maintenance of visual acuity at pretreatment levels in three eyes (mean follow up period 7.6 months). Clinical appearance in five eyes was unchanged but these eyes still had active CNV. Two eyes with pigment epithelial detachment showed no clinical or angiographic change after interferon therapy although visual acuity in one eye had improved. Interferon alfa-2a may have a role to play in the treatment of ARMD as an adjunct to laser photocoagulation.
ISSN:0007-1161
1468-2079
DOI:10.1136/bjo.77.12.766