COMPARISON OF OPHTHALMOLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS OF ANTIVIRAL DRUGS FOR HCV INFECTION
Prempal Kaur*, Baljinderpal Singh and Bhavkaran Singh Bal
ABSTRACT
Purpose Of the Study.The study was conducted to compare the ophthalmological complications of Pegelated
interferon, ribavirin combination with recently approved direct acting oral anti viral drugs sofosbuvir and
daclatasvir. Material And Methods. 120 patients of HCV selected for the study were divided into four Groups
.Group A (50) received pegelated interferon alpha (INF) and ribaveriin (RBV) for 24 weeks,Group B (25)
INF,RBV and sofosbuvir (SOF) for 12weeks Group C (25) SOF and RBV for 24 weeks and Group D (20) SOF
and Daclatasvir for 12 weeks. Retinal examination was done at baseline, 4,8,12 and 24 weeks during treatment and
4 weeks after completion of treatment. Results: Fifteen patients developed retinopathy in the form of cotton wool
spots and hemorrhages, 12 in Group A,3 in Group B and none in Group C and D. Despite retinopathy treatment
was completed and BCVA of 6/6 was maintained in all except in two patients ,one each in Group A and Group B.
They lost vision due to cystoid macular edema and treatment was discontinued. One lost to followup and other
recovered 6/6 vision. Conclusions: Retinopathy was detected only in those HCV patients who were taking INF as
part of their treatment. With newer combinations tolerability and compliance has increased .Effective and safe
treatment of all genotypes of HCV with interferon free, SOF based oral regimens is now becoming a reality and
we can look forward to total eradication of HCV infection.
Keywords: Hepatitis, Interferon, Ribavirin, Retinopathy.
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