OCULAR MYASTHENIC SYNDROME AFTER INTERFERON THERAPY FOR CHRONIC HEPATITIS

A 68-year-old woman suffering from chronic hepatitis complained of ver tical diplopia after long-term administration of alpha-II-interferon ( IFN). Ocular symptoms worsened and left ptosis appeared during IFN tre atment, but disappeared after IFN therapy was discontinued. Thorough s erological and neuro-ophthalmological diagnostic examinations failed t o disclose any reasons for these ocular symptoms. Fatigable lid ptosis , negative results of diagnostic examinations for ocular myasthenia, a nd the clinical course suggest that this patient developed an ocular m yasthenic syndrome secondary to IFN.