Introduction: Chronic hepatitis C- therapy is limited to the combined use of PEG- ylated interferons and ribavirin. Side effects of this therapy include retinal changes that manifest with bleeding, cotton wool spots a...Introduction: Chronic hepatitis C- therapy is limited to the combined use of PEG- ylated interferons and ribavirin. Side effects of this therapy include retinal changes that manifest with bleeding, cotton wool spots and/or thrombosis. Patient: A 51- year- old man presented with a sudden decrease of visual acuity. Chronic hepatitis C was known for the duration of 6 months and treated for 3 months with a combined therapy of PEG- interferon α 2B and ribavirin. A sudden visual loss occurred in the right eye and bilateral visual field defects were detected. Ophthalmoscopic examination revealed bilateral papilloedema. After withdrawal of PEG- interferon α 2B and ribavirin, a standard haemodilution therapy was started without functional improvement. After papilloedema regression, a beginning secondary atrophy of the optic nerve was diagnosed bilaterally. Vision did not improve. Conclusion: The ocular side effects of combined hepatitis C therapy with PEGinterferon α 2B and ribavirin range from mild retinal changes to severely impaired vision. Treatment should be carried out in co- operation with an ophthalmologist. With respect to the uncertain effectiveness of hepatitis C therapy with interferon α 2B and ribavirin, therapy should be stopped as soon as severe ophthalmological complications occur.展开更多
文摘Introduction: Chronic hepatitis C- therapy is limited to the combined use of PEG- ylated interferons and ribavirin. Side effects of this therapy include retinal changes that manifest with bleeding, cotton wool spots and/or thrombosis. Patient: A 51- year- old man presented with a sudden decrease of visual acuity. Chronic hepatitis C was known for the duration of 6 months and treated for 3 months with a combined therapy of PEG- interferon α 2B and ribavirin. A sudden visual loss occurred in the right eye and bilateral visual field defects were detected. Ophthalmoscopic examination revealed bilateral papilloedema. After withdrawal of PEG- interferon α 2B and ribavirin, a standard haemodilution therapy was started without functional improvement. After papilloedema regression, a beginning secondary atrophy of the optic nerve was diagnosed bilaterally. Vision did not improve. Conclusion: The ocular side effects of combined hepatitis C therapy with PEGinterferon α 2B and ribavirin range from mild retinal changes to severely impaired vision. Treatment should be carried out in co- operation with an ophthalmologist. With respect to the uncertain effectiveness of hepatitis C therapy with interferon α 2B and ribavirin, therapy should be stopped as soon as severe ophthalmological complications occur.
