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.