TREATMENT OF CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION WITH INTERFERON ALFA-2A AND ALFA-2B

Forty eight eyes of 42 patients with choroidal neovascular membranes a nd age-related macular degeneration who received three different dose regimens of systemic interferon alfa-2 were studied retrospectively. T he response to treatment of 41 eyes of the 37 patients who received at least 4 weeks' treatment was analysed with respect to the change in s ize of the choroidal neovascular membrane and the visual acuity compar ed with pretreatment levels. The size of the membrane at the end of th e course of treatment had decreased in seven (17%) eyes overall, not c hanged in 16 (39%), and increased in 18 (44%). At the end of treatment , the visual acuity had improved in seven (17%) eyes, not changed in 2 7 (66%), and deteriorated in seven (17%). With an average follow up of 10 months after treatment, the visual acuity had deteriorated compare d with the pretreatment value in 21 out of 41 (51%) eyes. Vision impro ved in some fellow eyes with disciform scars. Side effects were common and often severe. The data suggest that one of the major effects of i nterferon alfa may be to decrease vascular permeability. While further research may identify a place for interferon alfa in the treatment of choroidal neovascularisation, we were unable to demonstrate that the treatment regimens of systemic interferon alfa we used caused a dramat ic benefit to patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration .