Telaprevir-induced, but not pegylated interferon-associated, retinopathy as a noteworthy adverse effect during triple antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C

J Gastroenterol. 2014 Feb;49(2):363-8. doi: 10.1007/s00535-013-0889-8. Epub 2013 Oct 1.

Abstract

Background: The significance of retinopathy during triple therapy with telaprevir is uncertain.

Methods: Ophthalmologic examination was done prospectively before and every month during the therapy in 95 CHC patients.

Results: Retinopathy was found in 46 (48.4 %), and the specialists recommended discontinuation of the therapy in 9 (9.5 %). Such lesions may develop as adverse effects by telaprevir, since the lesions disappeared following discontinuation of telaprevir in a 65-year-old man, in whom both pegylated-interferon (Peg-IFN) and ribavirin were continued, and reappeared when he took telaprevir again by his decision. Multivariate analysis revealed that interleukin 28B single-nucleotide polymorphism (IL28B SNP) and anemia development during the therapy were independent factors associating retinopathy.

Conclusion: Ophthalmologic examinations should be done carefully during triple therapy, since the incidence was higher than that in previous Peg-IFN therapy, and lesions may develop as adverse effects by telaprevir, but not by Peg-IFN, especially in those showing preferable IL28B SNPs allele and/or anemia during the therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anemia / complications
  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use
  • Interferons
  • Interleukins / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oligopeptides / adverse effects*
  • Oligopeptides / therapeutic use
  • Polyethylene Glycols / therapeutic use
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Retinal Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • interferon-lambda, human
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Interleukins
  • Oligopeptides
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • telaprevir
  • Interferons
  • peginterferon alfa-2b