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Effect of subtenon injection of natural leucocytic interferon‐α for treatment of age‐related choroidal neovascularization
Author(s) -
CELLINI M,
STROBBE E,
BALDUCCI N,
CAMPOS E
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2011.345.x
Subject(s) - medicine , choroidal neovascularization , ophthalmology , visual acuity , adverse effect , macular degeneration , fluorescein angiography , bevacizumab , surgery , chemotherapy
Purpose To evaluate the effect of subtenon injection of natural leucocytic interferon‐α (IFN‐α) on visual acuity (VA), macular thickness (MT) and membrane size in patients affected by type II age‐related choroidal neovascularization (CNV) refractory to intravitreal injection of bevacizumab Methods 20 patients (male:female=8:12; mean age: 77.7±6.6) were evaluated, including best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fluorescein angiography, indocianin angiography and SD‐OCT, preoperatively and after 1 month and 4 months following the last injection. Patients received a parabulbar subtenonian injection of IFN‐α (1x106 UL/ml, Alfaferone, AlfaWassermann) 3 times a week for 4 consecutive weeks. Results BCVA, expressed in LogMAR, significantly improved after the first month (0.88±0.49vs0.65±0.52; p<0,001), and was stable at the third visit (0.60±0.52 p<0,001). SD‐OCT showed a significant reduction in MT (485.05µm ±129.5 vs 391.00µm ±125.47; p<0.001). After 4 months, MT was slightly increased, but it was still significantly lower than the baseline (405.20µm±151.03 p=0,04). Fluorangiographic images showed a significant reduction in membrane size (1.79 mmq ±1.26 vs 1.18 mmq ±1.10 p=0.003) and the result was stable at the follow up visit (1.01 mmq ±1.17 p=0.002). No adverse advents were recorded. Conclusion IFN‐α, with its immunomodulatory, antiproliferative and antiangiogenic actions, was effective in improving VA and reducing MT and membrane size.Randomized controlled studies will be useful to illustrate the effect of parabulbar IFN‐α alone or in combination with other intravitreal therapy for the treatment of CNV.