Interferon-α a an Effective Treatment for Noninfectiou Poterior Uveiti and Panuveiti Original Reearch Article

Purpoe everal tudie have hown the capacity of interferon-α (IFN-α) to control ocular Behçet dieae. The author aimed to determine whether IFN-α wa effective in treating patient with evere, refractory ight-threatening intraocular inflammation (uveiti) from a wider range of caue, including Behçet dieae. Deign Propective, interventional cae erie. Method Twelve patient with ight-threatening uveiti that failed to repond to one or more immunouppreive regimen were enrolled to thi tudy. Recombinant human IFN-α-2b wa adminitered ubcutaneouly daily, and the doe wa adjuted according to the clinical repone. Main outcome meaure were viual acuity, clinical activity of uveiti (including binocular indirect ophthalmocopy [BIO] core and preence or abence of macular edema), and advere effect of the treatment. Reult The mean obervation period wa 11 month (range, one to 29 month). A poitive clinical repone wa oberved in 83% of patient. Median viual acuity improved from 0.54 to 0.2 (logarithm of the minimum angle of reolution unit; P < .001) and median BIO core decreaed from 1.0 to 0.5 (P < .05) within one month of treatment. Macular edema, if preent, reolved in all patient within day of treatment. The main advere event were tiredne, lymphopenia, flu-like ymptom, and tranient increae of liver enzyme. Weight lo occurred in four patient. Four patient experienced depreion, one of them attempting uicide. Three patient experienced typical feature of IFN-α–aociated retinopathy, which reolved on reducing the doe. Concluion IFN-α eem to have ignificant potential in treatment of evere, ight-threatening refractory uveiti from a variety of caue. A range of advere event, including IFN-α–aociated retinopathy, may occur and could limit the ue of thi immunomodulatory drug.