Topical interferon therapy in uveitic macular edema

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To evaluate efficacy of topical interferon alfa?2b (IFN) in the treatment of uveitic macular edema (UME). Methods: This is a prospective, interventional case study of patients with UME. Injection IFN was reconstituted into eye drops and a four times/day (QID) application was prescribed. Central macular thickness (CMT) on optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan was evaluated. Improvement in CMT by ?50 ?m from the baseline was studied in eyes with presenting CMT ?400 ?m. Results: Twenty eyes of 20 patients with UME were studied anterior uveitis (n = 3), anterior + intermediate uveitis (n = 5), posterior uveitis (n = 3), retinal vasculitis (n = 3), and panuveitis (n = 6). Mean CMT at the presentation was 423.3 ?m (range 270–604 ?m), which improved at 1 month (n = 16), 2 months (n = 10), and ?3 months (n = 11) follow?up, to 415.3 ?m (range 247–579 ?m) (P = 0.411), 364.4 ?m (range 258–566 ?m) (P = 0.099), 344 ?m (range 258– 484 ?m) (P = 0.001), respectively. Twelve eyes of 12 patients had presenting CMT ?400 ?m. In these cases, decrease in CMT by ?50 ?m was seen in 4/10, 4/5, and 5/6 eyes at 1 and 2 months and ?3 months follow?up. Mean follow?up was 4 months (range 1–17 months). Complete resolution of UME was seen only in three eyes. No ocular or systemic side effects were observed. Conclusion: Topical IFN therapy in QID doses is safe but may have limited role in UME. Long?term therapy may improve its efficacy. Larger studies with dose modification, combination with other drugs, and with homogeneous uveitis population are recommended.