Incidence and risk factors for the development of interferon retinopathy in patients with type C chronic active hepatitis

Incidence and risk factors for the development of interferon retinopathy were studied in patients with type C chronic active hapatitis. Eighty-eight patients without retinal change before interferon treatment were enrolled. Incidence of retinopathy was 25%; all the retinopathy developed within 12 weeks after the start of interferon treatment, the fastest onset being 2 weeks. Four variables including percent decrease in platelets and percent increase in triglyceride at 12 weeks after the beginning of interferon treatment, and HbA1C and mean blood pressure before the treatment have been selected by stepwise regression analysis for the development of interferon retinopathy. These results suggest that interferon retinopathy tends to develop in patients with diabetes mellitus or hypertension, and the decreas in platelets and the increase in triglyceride are other factors associated with interferon retinopathy. However, careful ophthalmologic follow-up enables interferon treatment to be continued.