Interferon Alpha-2a Treatment for Post-Uveitic Refractory Macular Edema

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of interferon (IFN) alpha-2a in the treatment of post-uveitic refractory macular edema (ME).

Methods: Retrospective cohort of patients with post-uveitic refractory ME, who received subcutaneous IFN alpha-2a injections for at least 3 months. Baseline central macular thickness (CMT) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were compared with those at follow-up visits up to 12 months.

Results: Thirty-seven patients were included. Treatment duration (median [interquartile range]) was 14[8–24] months with a follow-up of 17[10–38] months. CMT (mean [standard deviation]) decreased from 438[140] to 335[119] μm after 1 month (p < 0.0001) and remained significantly lower up to 12 months (286[98] μm, p = 0.001). BCVA (0.48[0.33] logMAR at baseline) improved by 0.26[0.33] logMAR (p = 0.001) at 12 months. There were 14 recurrences. Seven patients had treatment side effects, without serious adverse events.

Conclusions: IFN alpha-2a was effective, safe, and well tolerated in treating post-uveitic refractory ME.

Keywords:

• IFN
• Interferon alpha-2a
• macular edema
• post-uveitic
• uveitis

Conflict of interest

All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements) or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge, or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.