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Outcome of Retinopathy in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Treated with Peginterferon and Ribavirin

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the incidence and outcome of retinopathy in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with peginterferon and ribavirin. A total of 74 hepatitis C patients with baseline eye exams and eye exams during therapy were included. Retinopathy was defined as development of cotton wool spots and/or intra-retinal hemorrhage. Demographics, hepatitis C viral characteristics, treatment and laboratory data, and eye exam findings were compared in groups with and without retinopathy. Retinopathy developed in 28 (38%), early in therapy. Pre-treatment eye exams did not predict risk of retinopathy. Therapy was continued in all but one; cotton wool spots resolved in 24 of 26. All nine patients with intra-retinal hemorrhage had resolution. No patient had retinopathy-related visual deterioration. Retinopathy is common with peginterferon therapy, but the outcome is favorable. Cessation of therapy for retinopathy is not warranted. Severe visual disturbances and scotomas deserve further evaluation.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Monica Collopy for assistance with clinical conduct of the study and Nancy Newman, MS for assistance with statistical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 800 Irving Avenue, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Nilesh Mehta & Uma K. Murthy

  2. Department of Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA

    Vivek Kaul

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Samuel Alpert, Gerald Abruzzese & Charles Teitelbaum

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  1. Nilesh Mehta
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  2. Uma K. Murthy
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  3. Vivek Kaul
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  4. Samuel Alpert
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  5. Gerald Abruzzese
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  6. Charles Teitelbaum
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Correspondence to Nilesh Mehta.

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Mehta, N., Murthy, U.K., Kaul, V. et al. Outcome of Retinopathy in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Treated with Peginterferon and Ribavirin. Dig Dis Sci 55, 452–457 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-009-0721-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-009-0721-8

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