Interferon Alpha-2a for the Treatment of Post-Infectious Uveitis Secondary to Presumed Intraocular Tuberculosis.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of interferon (IFN) alpha-2a in post-infectious uveitis secondary to presumed intraocular tuberculosis (IOTB).

Methods

Patients with chronic uveitis secondary to presumed IOTB who, after completing an antitubercular treatment, showed poor response to treatments or recurred after tapering oral corticosteroids to ≤7.5 mg/day were enrolled. All patients were treated with IFN alpha-2a subcutaneous injections. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), and inflammatory signs were compared between baseline and follow-up visits up to six months.

Results

Twelve eyes (six patients) were enrolled. Mean BCVA improved from 0.64 ± 0.55 logMAR at baseline to 0.32 ± 0.31 logMAR at 6 months (p = 0.03). Mean CRT decreased from 372 ± 132.2 μm to 274.66 ± 34.9 μm at six months (p = 0.01). Inflammatory signs (vitritis, vasculitis) also decreased overtime. No major complications or tuberculosis reactivations were recorded.

Conclusions

IFN alpha-2a was efficacious and safe in treating chronic post-infectious uveitis secondary to presumed IOTB.