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Interferon-α2a and Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease: a double-edged sword?

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Abstract

Successful therapy based on the use of interferon-α has been reported in different types of severe chronic uveitis. The immunomodulatory effects of this drug, combined with its antiviral properties seem to contribute to its efficacy in the treatment of different forms of severe and refractory uveitis such as Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, Behçet-associated uveitis, or even human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) associated uveitis. At the same time, severe ocular complications have been reported in patients treated with interferon-α for chronic viral hepatitis C. Among these complications, six cases of Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada-like disease have been described.

We report a small case series of two patients with refractory Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease, treated with interferon-α and discuss the potential benefits or detrimental role of interferon therapy in these patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, University of Paris VI, 47-83 bd de l’Hôpital, 75013, Paris, France

    Valerie Touitou, Christine Fardeau, Phuc LeHoang & Bahram Bodaghi

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, University of Paris VI, 47-83 bd de l’Hôpital, 75013, Paris, France

    Damien Sene, Thi-Huong-Du Boutin, Jean-Charles Piette & Patrice Cacoub

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, North Hospital, 2 place Victor Pauchet, 80054, Amiens, France

    Pierre Duhaut

Authors
  1. Valerie Touitou
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  2. Damien Sene
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  3. Christine Fardeau
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  4. Thi-Huong-Du Boutin
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  5. Pierre Duhaut
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  6. Jean-Charles Piette
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  7. Phuc LeHoang
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  8. Patrice Cacoub
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  9. Bahram Bodaghi
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Correspondence to Phuc LeHoang.

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Touitou, V., Sene, D., Fardeau, C. et al. Interferon-α2a and Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease: a double-edged sword?. Int Ophthalmol 27, 211–215 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-007-9040-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-007-9040-2

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