The Therapeutic Efficacy of Interferon Alpha-2b in Patients with Primary and Recurrent Pterygium

Abstract

Seyed-Hashem Daryabari*, Mohammadhosein Ranjkesh, Mohammadreza Saeedifar, Hamidreza Torabi, Esmaeil Shabaninezhad and Alireza Shabaninezhad

Background: Pterygium is a growing fibrovascular tissue from the bulbar conjunctiva and can affect the cornea. Pterygium prevalence varies from 10.2% globally in a meta- analysis study, and in Iran, 13.34% was reported. Apart from those that should be surgically removed, there is currently no definitive treatment to eliminate and prevent pterygium growth, and only symptomatic treatment is used (lubrication). On the other hand, research has shown the antiangiogenic and antifibrotic properties of IFN alpha-2b (interferon alfa-2b). The goal of this research was to see how effective IFN alpha-2b is, in treating primary and recurrent pterygium in order to improve quality of life and reduce burden.

Materials and Methods: This study was performed on 34 eyes of 34 consecutive patients suffering from primary and recurrent pterygium who did not indicate surgical treatment during the study. The grade and size of pterygium, visual acuity, refraction, and keratometry were assessed before the intervention, 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment with IFN alpha-2b.

Results: Following treatment with IFN alpha-2b, the mean size of pterygium did not significantly decrease in both groups. Mean UnCorrected Visual Acuity (UCVA) was significantly reduced in both groups. After a 6-month follow-up, the recurrent group’s Best-Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) improved dramatically. After utilizing IFN alpha-2b, neither group’s mean refraction nor mean keratometry improved much.

Conclusion: IFN alpha-2b may not be a proper alternative for surgical approach in patients suffering from primary and recurrent pterygium, but it can be considered an adjunct therapy to prevent a recurrence and burden of disease.