INTERFERON INDUCED RETINOPATHY

Course overview

INTERFERONS ARE GLYCOPROTEINS THAT HAVE ANTIVIRAL, ANTIPROLIFERATIVE, AND IMMUNOMODULATORY FUNCTIONS. THEY ARE USED WIDELY FOR THE TREATMENT OF MANY CONDITIONS LIKE HEPATITIS C, CANCERS, AND IMMUNE-MEDIATED DISORDERS LIKE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. HOWEVER, THEIR USE IS ASSOCIATED WITH NUMEROUS ADVERSE EFFECTS LIKE FATIGUE, INFLUENZA-LIKE SYNDROME, TOXICITIES RELATED TO THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT, ENDOCRINE SYSTEM, AND CARDIOVASCULAR, RENAL, AND MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEMS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF INTERFERON-INDUCED RETINOPATHY AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.